Friday, March 22, 2013
NK's Sen. Hodgson speaks out in favor of same-sex marriage.
By midnight Thursday, people were still testifying for and against the same-sex marriage legislation (S-38) before the state Senate Judiciary Committee. More than 600 people signed up to testify and in groups of four they were called up. North Kingstown State Senator Dawson Hodgson (R - North Kingstown, East Greenwich, South Kingstown and Narragansett) sits on the Judiciary Committee. Hodgson early on spoke out in favor of the legislation: "If Rhode Islanders truly believe in family values, we need to value all families." To the comments from some that the legislation harms marriage, Hodgson said, "No matter what this committee does, it won't touch your marriage. That's one of the nice things about the separation of church and state." …
Monday, February 4, 2013
He decries the Senate's "lack of urgency"; Rep. Giarrusso says these early days are for getting bills written and, in general, tackling smaller issues.
One month into the General Assembly's 2013 session, things haven't changed very much from this point two years ago, according to Sen. Dawson Hodgson (R-Dist. 35). "We’re about a month in, we’ve only had one or two calendars since inauguration day," Hodgson said, referring to days in which there's formal action on a bill. "This is the time of year when we show up and there’s no bill pending, there’s no votes ... on state business." Hodgson said inaction on same-sex marriage is one reason for the Senate's seeming "lack of urgency." "Whether you support same sex marriage or oppose it … these are deeply held motiviations and they are profound on both sides. For my colleagues who are deeply engaged on this issue on both sides, they deserve to…
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
In a session full of pomp, circumstance, family and friends, the members of the 2013-14 General Assembly convene for the first time.
Democrat Robert E. Craven was one of only 16 new members of the Rhode Island General Assembly sworn in Tuesday at the State House. Craven joined the House's 75 other members during the swearing in ceremony, which saw Rep. Gordon D. Fox retain his seat as Speaker of the House. Craven beat out Republican incumbent Rep. Laurence Ehrhardt in November elections, following a tough primary between Ehrhardt and fellow Republican Sharon Gamba. Though it will be Craven's first term in the General Assembly, he's no stranger to politics. In the 1990s, he served on the North Kingstown Town Council and was Assistant Attorney General in the 1980s. Also sworn in on the House side was Rep. Doreen Costa (R - NK, Exeter) who beat out her Democratic …
Friday, November 9, 2012
State Sen. Dawson Hodgson is one of 15 politicians to watch in 2014.
Just days after Election Day, GoLocalProv has already started looking toward 2014 and has some predictions. The news site has named 15 Rhode Island politicians to watch in 2014 – among them is State Senator Dawson Hodgson of North Kingstown. Hodgson – a Republican who also serves East Greenwich, South Kingstown and Narragansett – was elected to his second term this week with 58 percent of the vote. According to GoLocalProv: State Republicans will be licking their wounds for some time, but if they want to be successful in Rhode Island, they might want to build the party around this rising star. Hodgson is fiscally conservative and socially liberal and has earned the respect of his Democratic colleagues in the State Senate. If he can build …
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
The Narragansett Democrat says he'll be able to get things done at the State House.
Narragansett Democrat Winters B. Hames III said he's looking to unseat Republican Dawson Hodgson of North Kingstown in the race for state Senate District 35 because as a Democrat he'll be able to get more done. "I think I could do a better job than Dawson," Hames said in a phone interview Monday. "I can work with the Democrats that are there. It’s very difficult for a member of the minority to get things done. Look at Dawson’s legislative record. You don’t get things accomplished that have to get accomplished." [You can find Hodgson's 2012 legislative record here.] This is not Hames's first run for elected office. In 1986, he lost a bid for state Representative, and he's been on the ballot for Town Council "several times" he said. He …
Monday, October 22, 2012
The Republican Senator for District 35 is running for re-election.
As a member of the small Republican minority in the state Senate, Dawson Hodgson said his job isn’t to rack up lots of big legislative accomplishments. Rather, Hodgson sees his role as setting the stage for fundamental change in Rhode Island state government. "The payoff for what I'm doing now is going to be long, long after I'm gone," he said. Hodgson, who is running for re-election to Senate Dist. 35 against Democrat Winters B. Hames III, lives in North Kingstown with his wife and two young sons on the farm that’s part of the family turf business, Sodco. A lawyer, he spent four years working in the state Attorney General’s office before deciding to run for state Senate two years ago. Today, he helps to manage the turf business. District…
Thursday, September 27, 2012
North Kingstown's two state senators butt heads over the 38 Studios debacle.
North Kingstown's two state senators' differing opinions on probing the failed 38 Studios have come to light following a review of legislative correspondence by the Associated Press. AP reports that Sen. Dawson Hodgson (R - North Kingstown, East Greenwich, Narragansett, and Exeter) asked Sen. James Sheehan (D- North Kingstown and Narragansett) twice in August to convene hearings into 38 Studios. This summer, the video game studio led by former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling collapsed after receiving a $75 million loan guarantee from the state. Sheehan – who heads the State Senate's government oversight committee – denied the requests, citing the inquiries into the controversy could interfere with the current investigations. …
Monday, June 11, 2012
Senator Dawson Hodgson (R - North Kingstown, East Greenwich) warns constituents to pay attention to backroom and last-minute deals.
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Monday, June 11, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
Among the bills he's introduced, one would abolish the Caruolo Act. Another would offer merit "bonuses" for some teachers.
Dawson Hodgson, the Republican state senator from North Kingstown, spent his first year in office learning the ropes — “playing defense and being a vocal opponent of bad ideas.” This year, he said, he plans to take a more proactive role, from attempting to abolish the act that gives school committees the right to sue towns to offering $1,000 bonuses to teachers whose students earn AP credits. “I’m attempting to implement more policy changes,” Hodgson said in an recent interview. He’s introduced six what he calls “substantive” bills this session, this despite a bout of pneumonia a month ago that landed him in the hospital for two days. He’s recovered but said he tires more quickly than usual, joking that the Democrats have been enjoying a …
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Rhode Island's district lines have been redrawn.
The R.I. Reapportionment Commission approved new maps for the Congressional and state House and Senate districts at a hearing Monday night at the State House. There will be an additional hearing to consider minor “pocket” changes Thursday. Votes in favor of the state House and Senate district maps were unanimous; the vote on the U.S. Congressional district was closer, 11-6. “I think it’s a good compromise,” said Commission co-chair Stephen Ucci (D-District 42, Cranston, Johnston). “Again, not everybody’s going to be happy with it. This turned out to be a lot more difficult than I thought it would be.” North Kingstown's Rep. Laurence Ehrhardt spoke at the hearing because of reapportionment between he and Rep. Doreen Costa (R- Dist. 32, NK…
Politics Sheriff of NK
5:19 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013
I'll add that even if there were no evidence of same sex behavior in animals, what does that matter? They also dont write patch comments, does that mean we also shouldnt? more ›