Cicilline describes life inside, and politics behind, tender age detention centers
“It’s horrific,” said Congressman David Cicilline. “It’s barbaric.” The Rhode Island Democrat was describing what he saw after visiting immigration detention centers on the Texas/Mexico border this weekend where President Donald Trump’s family separation policy is playing out as a moral and political crisis before America’s and the world’s eyes. “It is horrifying to see […]
Cicilline holds the line for Dreamers, rest of RI delegation supports budget deal
Congressman David Cicilline held the line for Dreamers, voting – in contrast to the rest of the Rhode Island delegation – against the bill to fund, and effectively re-open, the government today. “We should be staying here and working around the clock to get this work done, rather than kicking the can down the road […]
RI delegation denounces Trump’s tax plan
Rhode Island’s all-Democratic Congressional delegation is none-too-pleased with Trump’s tax plan that seems poised to reach his desk today or tomorrow. “Republicans just pulled off one of the biggest cons in the history of American politics,” said Congressman David Cicilline. Senator Jack Reed went almost as far, saying, “It is an historic transfer of wealth […]
How the GOP tax plan would hurt Rhode Island
The Republican tax proposals would ill-serve Rhode Island in a variety of ways, said federal, state, and local officials who have been busy studying the copious and potentially crippling ramifications either the House or Senate bill could have on life in the Ocean State. The effects range from increased economic inequality, cuts to the social […]
RI House delegation doesn’t follow Pelosi’s lead on superdelegates
Superdelegates aren’t sacrosanct to the Democrats’ presidential nominating process, as evidenced by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s willingness to rail against their role yesterday at the Community College of Rhode Island (and Sunday on CNN). But that doesn’t mean every House Democrat will follow her lead and speak out against the process that gives state […]
Why did Pruitt prevent RI scientists from sharing Narragansett Bay climate findings?
Why were three Environmental Protection Agency scientists from Rhode Island recently prevented from presenting their contributions to a report focusing on how climate change will affect Narragansett Bay and its watershed? That’s the question Rhode Island’s four-person Congressional delegation, and seven of the eight members of Massachusett’s delegation, are asking EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt after […]
RI reacts to Trump decision to keep EPA from presenting local climate findings
The authors and supporters of a new report called The State of Narragansett Bay and Its Watershed hoped the new report would help call attention to the dire effects of climate change on coastal Rhode Island. Instead, the report is calling attention to the dire effects of the Trump Administration on science and speech. “I […]
Cicilline legislation would provide view into Trump’s swamp
Congressman David Cicilline’s new bill won’t actually drain the swamp out of Trump Administration, but it could give America a better glimpse at that ecosystem. It’s called the DRAIN The Swamp Act, or the Determining if Regulatory Actions are in the Interest of the Nation or the Swamp Act, and it would require “agencies to […]
Langevin supports Medicare for All, Reed is only holdout
After being pressed hard by constituents, Congressman Jim Langevin announced today he too supports Medicare for All. “After much deliberation,” said Langevin in a prepared statement, “I have determined that this is a policy worthy of serious consideration, so I have decided to cosponsor the Medicare for All Act.” “I have long said the Affordable Care Act is […]
RI congressional delegation split on Medicare for All
When it comes to Medicare for All, Rhode Island’s congressional delegation is split down the middle. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman David Cicilline both cosponsor such bills in their respective chambers, while Senator Jack Reed and Congressman Jim Langevin are both still undecided. Whitehouse made news recently as an early cosponsor of Vermont Senator Bernie […]
Cicilline to Trump: fire Steve Bannon
It’s high time to fire Steve Bannon, Congressman David Cicilline told President Donald Trump in a letter sent Tuesday and signed by seven US representatives. “Americans deserve to know that white nationalists, white supremacists, and neo-Nazis are not in a position to influence U.S. policy,” said the letter. Referencing the racist violence on display in […]
RI Democrats trash Trump for lacking morals on Charlottesville
Rhode Island Democrats castigated President Donald Trump for equating protesting white supremacy with advocating for white supremacy after a racism rally in Charlottesville, Virginia turned violent and left one woman dead and many others injured. “The United States fought against Nazis and fascism in World War II. Over 400,000 Americans gave their lives in that […]
RI delegations weighs in on Comey testimony
Senator Jack Reed is the only one who got to take part in what the internet named #ComeyDay, but all four members of Rhode Island’s congressional delegation weighed in on the historic hearing in which a former FBI director accused the sitting president of trying to derail a criminal investigation into Russian election meddling. Senator […]
Passionate dissent at congressional delegation’s town hall
Hundreds of Rhode Islanders braved the inclement weather on Sunday afternoon to make their voices heard at a gathering of the Rhode Island congressional delegation at the East Providence High School auditorium. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed and Representatives David Cicilline and Jim Langevin fielded questions from a growingly impatient and sometimes outright hostile […]
RI delegation is concerned about Rex Tillerson
It’s fair to say Rhode Island’s congressional delegation is concerned with President-elect Donald Trump tapping ExxonMobile chexecutive Rex Tillerson to serve as secretary of state. Senator Jack Reed said he has “serious concerns.” Senator Sheldon Whitehouse said he has “deep concerns.” Congressman Langevin said he has “significant concerns” and Congressman David Cicilline said, “The American […]
Congressional delegation responds to Resist Hate RI petition
More than 1,700 Rhode Islanders signed a petition imploring the local congressional delegation “to be leaders at the federal level in resisting the Trump-Pence agenda.” And Rhode Island’s congressional delegation has, to varying degrees, responded to them. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse proactively sent a statement to several local reporters who covered the petition being delivered to […]
Cicilline bill would make Trump release his taxes
No law says the president of the United States has to share their tax returns with the American people. But Rhode Island Congressman David Cicilline is the lead sponsor of a new bill that would make it a law. “Americans have a right to know whether their elected officials are acting in the public interest, […]
Congressmen Cicilline, Larson want to expand social security for retirees
On August 14, 1935 President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law, perhaps one of the greatest and most important strands of the fraying American social safety net. On Tuesday, Congressmen David Cicilline and John Larson of Connecticut are celebrating social security’s 81st birthday in East Providence, in the community room of Rumford […]
Cicilline, Langevin hold gun safety ‘sit-in’ Wed in PVD
This follow-up event is being billed, by Cicilline spokesman Rich Luchette, as an opportunity to “discuss ways for Rhode Islanders to continue to push Republicans in Congress on ‘no fly, no buy’ and universal background checks,” he said.
Led by Cicilline and Lewis, Dems shut down House of Representatives
Congressional Democrats shut down the U.S. House of Representatives by staging a sit-in on the floor that lasted more than 12 hours, led to disarray and physically prevented Speaker Paul Ryan from conducting business. They were protesting against House Republicans who refuse to allow a vote on a bill that would get guns out of […]
New Comments