Bob Plain
Gemma Said He Wouldn’t Vote For Cicilline
Anthony Gemma says he running against Congressman David Cicilline to help keep the CD1 seat in the hands of the Democrats. But he also said that he wouldn’t vote for Cicilline in the general election if the incumbent beats him in the primary. “I said in good consciousness I cannot support David Cicilline,” Gemma told [...]
Hard to Tell Who Knew of 38 Studios Deal
Rhode Island is hyperfocused on Curt Schilling. But unlike eight years ago when he heroically hurled us to a World Series victory, this time we have to rely on his business – not athletic – acumen. His video game company, 38 Studios, was given a taxpayer guaranteed $75 million loan to move from Massachusetts to [...]
‘Two Handfuls’ of Senators Block Marriage Equality
Forget about a marriage equality bill making it out of the Senate this session, such legislation hasn’t even been heard in committee this year. It was introduced on February 16, but still hasn’t received its customary hearing. “I think you know what my position is on this,” said Sen. Michael McCafffrey, a Warwick Democrat, when [...]
Help RI Future Succeed: Donate Now!
To date, my new business plan for RI Future has consisted mostly of me wearing sweaters on cold nights and eating a lot of peanut butter and bread for meals. But this state’s only source of progressive news and information now needs a new computer. Since our readership is growing just as rapidly as the [...]
ACLU Questions Legality of Barrington Tuition Idea
The Barrington School Committee finally has a legal opinion on its idea to allow a small number of out-of-town students to to pay tuition to attend its high-performing public schools. It’s from the RI ACLU. “The Barrington School Department has no obligation to establish a special program to accept students from out-of-town, but once it [...]
38 Studios and the ‘Job Creator’ Logic
Word started buzzing around the State House just prior to Gov. Chafee making his historic executive order recognizing same sex marriages from other states – but the rumors weren’t about marriage equality, they were about 38 Studios. By the end of the day, Bill Rappleye of Channel 10 broke what very well could become the [...]
Deb Tevyaw, Pat Baker Never Got to Enjoy Equality
Deb Tevyaw and Pat Baker would have benefited greatly from Gov. Chafee’s executive order recognizing same sex marriages from other states. The two women married in Massachusetts in 2005 and resided in Rhode Island. But after impassioned efforts on behalf of marriage equality last session, they didn’t get to testify together this year, or watch [...]
RI Recognizes Out-of-State, Same Sex Marriages
Saying Rhode Island should pass its own marriage equality law, Gov. Lincoln Chafee signed an executive order today that asserts this state recognizes same sex marriages performed in other states. “Let’s get there ourselves,” he said to an enthusiastic crowd packed into the State Room of the State House. “This is the home of Roger [...]
Chafee Announcement: RI Recognizes Same Sex Marriages from Other States
I’ve confirmed that Gov. Chafee will anounce today that he will sign an executive order affirming that Rhode Island recognizes same sex marriages from other states. “The governor will direct all offices in state government to recognize as valid all out of state same sex marriages,” said a source who asked not to be identified. [...]
With Little Proof, Gemma Claims Progressive Mantle
The Democratic primary between Congressman David Cicilline and challenger Anthony Gemma will likely be decided by Providence voters and progressives. As such, it should come as no surprise that Gemma is claiming the mantle of being the more liberal candidate in the contest. “I’m every bit as progressive and as liberal as David Cicilline,” Gemma [...]
RI Progress Report: Education Disparity, Homeless Bill of Rights, Brendan Doherty, Citizens United, the Ocean Mist
What you’ll notice when you look at GoLocal’s annual list of best high schools is the ones at the top of the list are in affluent towns and the ones near the bottom are in poorer urban areas. It’s that simple: we have a tiered education system in this state. Rich kids, and those lucky [...]
Metts Says He Doesn’t Know How He Got On ALEC List
Another Democratic state legislator says he doesn’t know how he got on a list of current and former ALEC members at the State House. Sen Harold Metts, a progressive Democrat from Providence, told me he doesn’t know why he was listed as a former member of the American Legislative Exchange Council. “The only thing I [...]
Legal, Moral, Fiscal Issues for Barrington Tuition Idea
There are, at least, three major conundrums that need to be addressed before Barrington can move forward with its proposal to offer out-of-district students to attend the high-performing school district if they can afford to pay tuition. The most obvious are the legal issues, and we detailed them yesterday. The public school system will need [...]
RI Progress Report: Tobin Corners ‘Creepy’ Market; More on Marriage Equality, Barrington’s Tuition Proposal
It won’t happen this session, but we’d be real surprised if opposition to marriage equality in the Rhode Island Senate can fend off the legislation for another year. Ted Nesi reports that the Senate’s opposition to gay marriage is “softening.” Meanwhile, Ian Donnis reports that Rev. Gene Dyszlewski is running for the Senate seat being [...]
Barrington Tuition Idea Might Be Discriminatory
Not so fast, the state Department of Education tells a member of the Barrington School Committee after learning this morning that the district is considering allowing a limited number of students to attend the town’s high-performing schools if they can pay tuition to the public school system. “They’d be smart to get a legal opinion [...]
RI Progress Report: Chafee and Political Principles, Paying for Public Education, Gemma on Marriage Equality
In a surprising move that really shouldn’t surprise anyone who knows him, Gov Chafee has decided to take the Jason Pleau case all the way to the US Supreme Court, if they will hear it. While talk radio, and even the Pleau family, may not agree with this decision, taking a case to the SCOTUS [...]
Reed Now Supports Marriage Equality, Too
Thanks, presumably, to President Obama’s historic announcement of support for marriage equality, Rhode Island’s entire congressional delegation now believes gay couples should enjoy the same relationship rights as heterosexual couples. Senator Jack Reed was the lone holdout to support same sex marriage among the state’s beltway pols, but about three hours after the president announced [...]
Compassion Center Passes Senate, House Vote Wed.
A compromise bill that would, after much delay, pave the way for three medical marijuana compassion centers to open in Rhode Island passed the Senate overwhelmingly today by a vote of 35 to 3. The bill now heads to the House where it will be heard a week from today. “We’ve worked since last summer [...]
ALEC Funds Brien’s Travel Costs to Annual Meeting
Conservative Rep. Jon Brien, of Woonsocket, will be attending his first ALEC meeting as a member of the far right wing group’s board of directors when he travels to Charlotte, NC on Thursday for its annual Spring Task Force meeting where, he said, one of the orders of business will be “coming up with a [...]
RI Progress Report: URI Profs File Suit, West Warwick, Tar Heels on Marriage Equality, Doherty and US Chamber
URI professors have filed a lawsuit against the state saying the Board of Governors for Higher Education broke the law when they declined to ratify a contract they had already agreed to after Gov. Chafee weighed in on the matter. Profs may win in court, but in order to win in the court of public [...]
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