Daniel DaPonte – RI Future

Update: July 1: Congratulations to Representative Blake Filippi, and independent representing Charlestown, New Shoreham, South Kingstown and Westerly. With James Mageau withdrawing from the race, he’s been effectively re-elected to his seat in the General Assembly.

Update: July 1: Both MaryEllen Goodwin and Paul Jabour have picked up opponents on the Senate side. As the Secretary of State website is updated, some who have drawn their papers are still be added. Jeffrey Orlando Caminero is challenging Goodwin and Brian E Hutchings has stepped up against Jabour. Both identify as Republicans.

Update: June 30: Kathleen Decker contacted me to say that she is running against Jared Nunes, saying, “I declared yesterday and have the time stamped copy on my desk now. I checked with the Secretary of State’s office and the declaration paperwork is still being entered into the database by different town and city boards.” The article has been amended to reflect that, though as of July 1 she still hasn’t been added to the Secretary of State’s website.

About one/third of the General Assembly was, barring disaster or scandal, effectively re-elected at close of business yesterday when the due date for officially declaring one’s candidacy ended. 13 senators and 21 House members were granted two more years in legislative office simply by showing up and signing some forms. These 35 lucky politicians won’t have to go through the tedious process of walking their district and meeting their constituents, spend any of their campaign cash or run any kind of campaign at all. They are all effectively re-elected, and they all get to take the year off.

All are incumbents and they hail from all over the state, representing both Democrats and Republicans.

Ray Hull, a Democrat representing House District 6 received no challengers, despite being removed from House Finance as a punishment for voting against the infamous tolls by Speaker Nicholas Mattiello. Mattiello, by contrast, earned 3 challengers.

There are wins here for both progressives and conservatives. Progressives may be happy with Shelby Maldonado’s easy win in House District 56 (Central Falls) or Gayle Goldin’s continued service in Senate District 03 (Providence) while conservatives can celebrate the continued State House presence of Antonio Giarrusso representing House District 30 (East Greenwich) and Dennis Algier’s continuing presence as Senate Minority Leader from Senate District 38 (Westerly and Charlestown).

Among those running unchallenged is Arthur Corvese, who has refused to return $900 in illegal NRA contributions to his campaign. Other candidates running unopposed who have taken but not returned illegal NRA contributions include: Charlene Lima $300, Robert B Jacquard$1350, Stephen R Ucci $2050, Brian C Newberry $1250, MaryEllen Goodwin $550, Daniel DaPonte $400, Roger A Picard $1100,Marc A Cote $1000, Erin Lynch Prata $600 and James C Sheehan $400.

Blood money is still money, after all.

For a visual representation, here’s every House and Senate District represented by Post-it notes:

Here’s the same wall with only active races:

Here’s the list, culled from the Secretary of State’s latest update of unopposed candidates:

House

RAYMOND A HULL (D) House 06

JOHN JOSEPH LOMBARDI (D) House 08

SCOTT A SLATER (D) House 10

CHARLENE LIMA (D) House 14

ROBERT B JACQUARD (D) House 17

K JOSEPH SHEKARCHI (D) House 23

ANTONIO GIARRUSSO (R) House 30

SAMUEL A AZZINARO (D) House 37

STEPHEN R UCCI (D) House 42

GREGORY J COSTANTINO (D) House 44

BRIAN C NEWBERRY (R) House 48

MICHAEL A MORIN (D) House 49

STEPHEN M CASEY (D) House 50

ROBERT D PHILLIPS (D) House 51

ARTHUR J CORVESE (D) House 55

SHELBY MALDONADO (D) House 56

JAMES N MCLAUGHLIN (D) House 57

MARY DUFFY MESSIER (D) House 62

GREGG AMORE (D) House 65

JOY S HEARN (D) House 66

MARVIN L ABNEY (D) House 73

Senate

MARYELLEN GOODWIN (D) Senate 01

GAYLE L GOLDIN (D) Senate 03

PAUL V JABOUR (D) Senate 05

ADAM J SATCHELL (D) Senate 09

DANIEL DAPONTE (D) Senate 14

DONNA M NESSELBUSH (D) Senate 15

WILLIAM J CONLEY JR (D) Senate 18

ROGER A PICARD (D) Senate 20

MARC A COTE (D) Senate 24

FRANK S LOMBARDI (D) Senate 26

ERIN LYNCH PRATA (D) Senate 31

JAMES C SHEEHAN (D) Senate 36

DENNIS L ALGIERE (R) Senate 38

Much like its House counterpart, the Senate Finance Committee passed the FY16 budget bill unanimously with almost no discussion other than to speak on its merits.

“I would certainly characterize this budget as one that is not only ambitious, but one that makes a significant investment in areas that should have been invested in in the past,” Chairman Daniel DaPonte (D- District 14) said to begin the meeting. He added in a press release that the budget helps to put Rhode Island back on the right track economically.

“This is a budget that Rhode Island’s economy needs and through its passage will continue the economic stability and reform that delivers the message that Rhode Island’s economy is back and open for business.”

One of the short discussion points brought up during the meeting was whether or not the budget provided opportunities for youth.

“There have been some pockets that have been filled here, but I suggest that next year we consider providing more job opportunities for youth,” Senator Juan Pichardo (D- District 2) said.

DaPonte agreed with Pichardo, but also reminded the committee that there is no one specific way to keep youth working in the state.

“I think initiatives to focus on keeping young people here and getting them up and running are incorporated in the budget in a variety of different places and a variety of different ways,” he said. “I think the sum of all these parts is a statement to us not only wanting to keep these folks here, but increase the number of opportunities available.”

The night before, the House of Representatives was very kind to the bill as well, passing it through to the Senate after a swift three-hour session. Before its passage, many took the time to thank not only House Finance Committee Chairman Raymond Gallison (D- District 69), and Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, but the House Fiscal Advisory staff as well.

Other groups outside of the State House are also pleased with the budget. Planned Parenthood, which fought against the restrictive abortion insurance coverage in Article 18, said in a press release that they are pleased with the outcome of the bill.

“While we were disappointed the governor unnecessarily chose to widely expand the number of plans that do not cover abortion beyond federal minimum standards, the action by the General Assembly today ensures employers cannot unilaterally limit reproductive health care service coverage for their employers. This amendment will require employers and insurance carriers to clearly indicate when an employer is opting out of covering certain reproductive healthcare services, so that no one will be surprised by a lack of coverage for routine procedures.”

But, while many have championed the budget as a success story, there are still those that are dissatisfied. Common Cause Rhode Island, an advocacy and lobbyist group for transparent government, has expressed discontent with the budget’s provision for Governor Raimondo’s pension settlement.

“This extraordinary legislation, that will affect every Rhode Islander – and every Rhode Island state and municipal budget – for decades, should not be rolled into the annual budget as if it were just another article,” said executive director John Marion. “The budget debate that typically occurs in a single evening and includes debates on amendments concerning dozens of issues is not the place for this important legislation. It deserves special consideration so legislators, as much as they did in the special session in 2011, can take this up on the merits alone.”

Tag: Daniel DaPonte

The people have decided, kind of…

House

Senate

Senate Finance approves budget while advocacy groups respond