Beer, boofing, and devil’s triangle: Kavanaugh offers explanation to RI senator
“I like beer,” said Supreme Court hopeful Brett Kavanaugh when Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse asked if his high school “ralph club” referred to alcohol-induced vomiting. “Do you like beer, Senator?” the potential justice then shot back at Whitehouse. “What do you like to drink?” It wasn’t the only time Kavanaugh, visibly angry throughout the […]
Environmental groups join Sen. Whitehouse to spotlight plastic pollution
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse was joined by local environmental groups at a press conference Monday morning in Middletown to discuss the crisis of plastic pollution in our oceans and highlight federal legislation and local actions being taken to address the threat. Dave McLaughlin, executive director of Clean Ocean Access, hosted the event at their headquarters. “Earth […]
Trump makes America Koch again
President Donald Trump claimed to be an ally to the working class, deriding the so-called swamp and corporate control of politicians during the campaign. But the billionaire real estate developer has governed as an ally to his fellow well-connected business tycoons – cutting corporate taxes, gutting Obamacare, and abandoning the Paris Accord. To this end, […]
Whitehouse debuts $30M fund for coastal resiliency
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse chose the flood-prone Island Park section of Portsmouth as the backdrop to introduce the National Oceans and Coastal Security Fund. With local business, government leaders, and NGOs looking on, Whitehouse announced that the fund received its first $30 million appropriation in last month’s omnibus spending bill. Whitehouse began by showing the two dozen […]
Reed, Whitehouse support Saudi war on Yemen
Senators Sheldon Whitehouse’s and Jack Reed’s vote on March 20th to allow the continuation of war in Yemen without Congressional oversight is both outrageous and heartbreaking. Senator Bernie Sanders had a strong resolution to counter the dangerous warmongering and unbridled power of Trump and his Masters of War in Yemen. The bill was to simply […]
Are Democrats too concerned with Russian election meddling?
There are many people on the left who think “Russiagate” merits wall-to-wall news coverage and MSNBC’s near-singular focus. I’m not one of them. In fact, I’m beginning to find the rhetoric coming out of the Democratic Party on Russia, with its comparisons to the deadly attacks of 9/11 and Pearl Harbor, more than misplaced. They’re […]
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 […]
RI delegation chides Trump for administrative dismantling of Obamacare
Rather than dismantling Obamacare through executive orders, Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation urged President Donald Trump and Republicans to work with Democrats to fix the Affordable Care Act. The four Democrats oppose Trump’s executive orders that would allow for cheaper plans with fewer benefits and stop subsidies for some poor people’s health care. Senator Jack Reed […]
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 […]
Whitehouse explains Medicare For All, prospects for bills passage
“It’s to provide the opportunity to people who are not eligible for Medicare to never-the-less join Medicare and have all the advantages of reliability, efficiency, and security of Medicare,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, describing the Medicare For All bill he will be cosponsoring in the coming days. “At this point, it’s pretty aspirational,” he said. […]
Sheldon Whitehouse cosponsors Bernie Sanders’ Medicare For All legislation
Rhode Island will have a signature on Senator Bernie Sanders’ much-anticipated Medicare For All bill set to be introduced on Wednesday as Senator Sheldon Whitehouse will be a cosponsor. “It’s time we had a real conversation about creating a national health plan,” Whitehouse said in a statement released today. “We have come a long way […]
RI delegation chides Trump for ending DACA
Rhode Island’s all-Democratic congressional delegation reacted harshly today after the White House confirmed President Donald Trump plans to upend immigration status for 800,000 Americans by eliminating DACA, or the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. “President Trump’s priorities are backwards,” said Senator Jack Reed. “This decision is shameful and cruel,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. “America has […]
A clambake and a protest for Sheldon Whitehouse at Kempenaar’s on Sunday
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse held his annual summer fundraiser on Sunday at Kempenaar’s Clambake Club in Middletown. This year, unlike in the past, he and his distinguished guests and supporters were met with reminders that no one is immune from the Summer of Resistance. Whitehouse, known throughout the country as an environmental champion, still has […]
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 […]
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