State House

Laboratories of Democracy Must Push for More Democracy

In case you’re not following the steady stream of bills being introduced in the General Assembly (I only do it because I was asked to), you might not have noticed the introduction of a pair of bills that entered both the House and the Senate. If brought to a vote, they should pass, and this [...]

This Week at the General Assembly

This Week at the General Assembly

A highlight and discussion of some of the notable pieces of legislation going through the General Assembly this week. Education aid advance bill passes Assembly, becomes law - The General Assembly approved and the governor signed legislation requested by the East Providence Budget Commission to allow the city to receive its state education aid early to prevent [...]

RI Choice Coalition Recognizes Pro-Choice Leaders and Works to Ensure Health Care Access for all Rhode Islanders

RI Choice Coalition Recognizes Pro-Choice Leaders and Works to Ensure Health Care Access for all Rhode Islanders

It was a fitting day for the Rhode Island Choice Coalition to rally support for health care access considering the White House Report that was just released recognizing the state for being the top recipient of federal support totaling $64 Million for establishing a health care exchange.   The main theme however, was a commemoration [...]

And the consensus is…for H6095!

Today, the House Finance Committee heard testimony on H6095, the ’95/5′ tax that would solve our state’s budget deficit in a responsible way by asking those who can best afford it to join all the other Rhode Islanders who are “sharing the sacrifice.” And it was pretty clear which side Rhode Islanders came down on. [...]

95/5 Civic Responsibility!

Yesterday, Rep. Valencia held a press conference for his new income tax reform bill, H6095, which he’s calling the 95/5 Civic Responsibility bill. The 95/5 bill would raise an estimated $130 million in FY2012 and protect our state’s working families from even more painful and irresponsible service cuts. As the Projo reports: “It asks the [...]

Want to repeal the Bush tax cuts in RI and solve our fiscal crisis? We can.

With our $295 million deficit, cuts looming on the horizon, and the only other revenue-raising plan (a relatively regressive sales tax) now seeming to buckle under public outcry, Rhode Island is in desperate need of a real solution to our fiscal situation. Well, we have one! State Rep. Larry Valencia is currently drafting a piece [...]