Back from the Break: What’s Ahead for General Assembly

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Dan McGowan, GoLocalProv News Contributor

 

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Rhode Island’s school children weren’t the only ones on vacation this week. Lawmakers on Smith Hill also took some time off for spring recess as they prepare to vote on dozens of pieces of legislation in the coming months.

So what will be the major focus when the General Assembly is back in session next Tuesday?  In a word, the budget. Representatives and senators from both sides of the aisle agree that the most important discussion they’ll have from here on out will involve closing an estimated $300 million deficit.

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The General Assembly is required to pass a new budget by July 1, which gives them a little over two months to come to an agreement.

Speaker Fox: Budget And Quality-Of-Life Issues

But there is still some question as to whether other hot button issues like same-sex marriage or casino gambling will be voted on this year. In a statement to GoLocalProv, House Speaker Gordon Fox (at left) said the House is focusing on finding savings instead of raising taxes. He did not mention same-sex marriage.

“The passage of a budget that is fair to our hard-working taxpayers is of primary importance,” Speaker Fox said. “The multi-tiered sales tax proposal offered by Governor Chafee was unacceptable to a majority of House members, but I pledge to work with him to reshape a more responsible plan for our citizens.  Raising taxes should always be a last resort, and our House Finance Committee is in the process of scrutinizing every aspect of the budget to find the appropriate savings.  I want to provide greater opportunities for all by prudently investing our state’s resources, but those investments must always be measured by the time-tested notion of living within our means.”

Fox also vowed to increase transparency in the legislature in the coming months. Beginning in May, all committee votes will be placed on the General Assembly’s website. Floor votes have been posted since the beginning of the session.

Without getting into much detail, Fox said the budget won’t be the only issue talked about in the Assembly in the coming months.

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“We will also be debating many quality-of-life issues and important matters regarding public safety, such as computer crimes, bullying, and making our highways safer,” Fox said. “Our members have spent hundreds of hours hearing testimony on legislation in the various committees, and many significant issues will be brought forth for debate in the coming months.”

Same Sex Marriage

Freshman state Representatives Dan Reilly (D-72) and Chris Blazejewski (D-2) agreed that the economy should the number one focus, but they differ when it comes to the most pressing social issue of the year: Same-sex marriage.

In his first foray into State House politics, Reilly says the process has been inefficient, with his calendar filled some days, and blank on others.  He said he believes the House should vote on as many bills as possible, but his gut feeling is that same-sex marriage won’t be among them.

“I am not sure if gay marriage will come up, or if it will be civil unions, but I have a feeling the issue will not come up for a vote after break, when the focus is on the budget,” Reilly said. “Of course, I have nothing to base that on and could be completely wrong. It's just the gut instinct of myself and many people in the building.”

But Blazejewski, who says he has focused on helping small businesses gain capital, improving access to higher education and job training, and retaining the state’s educated workforce, plans to continue pushing for same-sex marriage.

“As a member of the Judiciary and Environment and Natural Resources Committees, I also look forward to working on passing legislation ending marriage discrimination in Rhode Island, as well as legislation enhancing net metering as a source of renewable energy in our state,” he said.

Senate Spokesperson: Improve Rhode Island’s Economy

On the Senate side, spokesperson Greg Pare said President Teresa Paiva Weed (below) and the rest of the Senate will be working toward creating a responsible budget. He said some of the major legislation includes Paiva Weed’s plan to establish a Renewable Energy Coordinating Council that will help address the state’s green economy, and Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio’s work to maximize the economic potential of the land made available through the relocation of Route 195.

“The Senate will continue to focus on developing a state budget that responsibly closes an estimated $300 million deficit,” Pare said. “As well as initiatives to help improve Rhode Island’s economy such as through workforce development and cutting red tape for small businesses."

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Pare also said improving health care will be a major focal point the rest of the session.

“The Senate has passed legislation to establish a Health Benefits Exchange, sponsored by Senate President Paiva Weed, to lay the groundwork for implementation of health reform in Rhode Island. It is important that this legislation is enacted this session to enable Rhode Island to capitalize on additional federal dollars available,” Pare said. “Also, a package of legislation has been submitted as a result of the Senate’s Hospital Cost Containment, Transparency and Efficiency Commission, and there are numerous other pieces of legislation which the members of the Senate have been working on to improve health care in Rhode Island. “

DiPalma: Budget, Budget, Budget

Senator Louis DiPalma (D-12) says he hopes a number of issues he has worked hard on come up during the rest of the session. He said moving the teacher layoff date back to June 1 and finding a sustainable funding approach for transportation are essential topics that need to be addressed.

But DiPalma said he understands one issue should rise above all else.

“The focus needs to be the budget, budget, and budget,” DiPalma said in an e-mail to GoLocalProv. “We need to get this right for 2012, 2013, etc. My focus will be on getting the 2012 budget established, ensuring we make decisions with long lasting positive effect, addressing this and future years' projected deficits.  We need to focus on ensuring we’re as efficient as we can be, and how far the precious tax dollar can be stretched.”

Jobs/Small Businesses/Voting Reform

In addition to the budget, Rep. Doreen Costa (D-31) said she hopes there will be a vote on both eliminating the Master Lever during elections, and forcing voters to show some form of identification when they head to the poll

“I know my focus - and I can only speak for me - will be the budget, taxes, protecting the small business owners, voter ID, [and] master lever,” she said. Costa believes voting reform will be a big issue in the coming months. “These two bills could be the way to change the way of voting as we know it. I also would like to add that I would support both bills.”

But for Rep. Cale Keable (D-47), it all goes back to jobs. Keable said it is in everyone’s best interest to focus on revitalizing the economy, which will save the state from raising taxes.

“The post-break focus promises to be on bringing jobs to Rhode Island,” Keable said. “Revitalizing our economy is everyone's priority and, ultimately, the best way to balance the budget without tax increases and/or painful cuts to programs.”

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