Gun compromise strains under pressure, with leadership votes saving two bills Published Mon Jun 28 2021 23:24:34 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Ian Donnis
A compromise to move four gun-related bills to the full Rhode Island House and Senate strained under pressure Monday, as the sponsor of one bill withdrew it due to changes she disliked and the top leaders of both chambers had to cast committee votes to save two other bills from going down to defeat.
The drama in each chamber’s Judiciary Committee reflects how lawmakers remain divided on gun regulation, even with the control of the House speakership shifting over the last year from NRA stalwart Nicholas Mattiello to the more moderate Joe Shekarchi (D-Warwick).
RI lawmakers approve unemployment changes to entice workers Published Wed May 12 2021 22:55:17 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Many Rhode Island businesses are having trouble finding employees as the busy summer season approaches. State lawmakers hope to address these staffing shortages by allowing people to work more hours while retaining their unemployment benefits. by Antonia Ayres-Brown
Under Rhode Island’s current rules, workers stop being eligible for unemployment payments if they earn more than their weekly benefit amount. Once that happens, they’re also cut off from the extra $300 that the federal government is providing each week until the beginning of September.
That all means some people could bring home less money by going back to work, and it’s one reason why many business owners say they can’t find employees.
RI House approves IGT/Bally s bill after sharp debate Published Wed May 12 2021 00:42:45 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Ian Donnis
After an almost three-hour debate, the Rhode Island House of Representatives voted Tuesday, 62 to 11, to give IGT and Bally’s a 20-year no-bid contract to provide the state’s gambling services.
GOP lawmakers unsuccessfully tried to amend the gambling bill, as part of what they called an attempt to strike a better deal for taxpayers.
Republican representatives point to how Massachusetts takes a higher percentage of revenue from table games in that state. GOP Whip Michael Chippendale (R-Foster) said he disliked the implied threat that IGT might leave Rhode Island if it didn’t get what it wanted.
PROVIDENCE As the nation grapples with a string of deadly shootings by police including the March 29 shooting of a 13-year-old boy in Chicago Rhode Island lawmakers are grappling with the state s own law for disciplining and weeding out bad cops.
At one end of the debate is freshman Sen. Tiara Mack, posting on Facebook: This has been an incredibly hard week emotionally, physically, mentally. One thing I have learned is that we need to ABOLISH the police. Not reform. Not defund. Abolish.
But other R.I. lawmakers spent close to four hours in the last week debating the right balance.
Abortion and assisted suicide are again up for RI legislative debate on Friday insurancenewsnet.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from insurancenewsnet.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.