Woonsocket Radio News Room

Statement sent from numerous representatives to Governor McKee

 

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

 

Dear Governor Daniel J. McKee:

 

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic of the last 18 months, those professionals that were society’s first line of defense against the virus—among the many, our nurses, doctors, CNAs, police, fire, emergency personnel—were lauded as “heroes” and “saviors” during this historic time of crisis.  Undaunted and unvaccinated, these individuals performed their daily duties at great personal risk to keep the rest of us healthy and the rest of us safe.  

 

However, now some of those same “heroes” and “saviors” are facing the loss of employment due to state executive orders mandating COVID- 19 vaccinations prior to October 1st.  While we strongly urge all adults to get vaccinated, we also believe none of our “heroes” should be in the unemployment line should they make the personal decision to decline vaccination.

 

We, the undersigned members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, are respectfully calling upon Governor Daniel McKee to amend the October 1st deadline for termination of employment for those licensed professionals choosing not to be vaccinated, and to direct the Rhode Island Department of Health to develop appropriate guidelines for those individuals to retain their employment while maintaining the public health.

 

If appropriate governmental action is not taken within the given time frame to protect these workers’ jobs, we respectfully request Speaker Shekarchi to reconvene the Rhode Island House of Representatives, in concert with the Rhode Island Senate, to address this extreme and unjust mandate, and, moreover, to set parameters for any future state, municipal, and private sector mandates concerning the commerce of daily life in the era of COVID-19.

 

Representative Arthur J. Corvese

 

Representative Thomas E. Noret

 

Representative Julie A. Casimiro

 

Representative Patricia A. Serpa 

 

Representative Deborah A. Felella

 

Representative Charlene Lima

 

Representative Gregory J. Costantino

 

Representative Steven M. Casey

 

Representative Carlos E. Tobon

 

Representative Grace Diaz

 

Representative Anastasia P. Williams

 

Representative Camille Vella-Wilkinson

 

Representative Robert D. Phillips

 

Representative William W. O’Brien

 

Representative Robert E. Craven Sr.

 

Representative Edward T. Cardillo Jr.

 

Representative Bernard A. Hawkins

 

Representative Mary Duffy Messier

 

Representative Samuel A. Azzinaro

 

Representative Steven J. Lima

 

Representative Ramon A. Perez

 

Representative James N. McLaughlin

 

Representative Nathan W. Biah

 

Representative Raymond A. Hull

 

Minority Leader Blake A. Filippi

 

Representative Brian C. Newberry

 

Representative Michael W. Chippendale

 

Representative David J. Place

 

Representative Robert J. Quattrocchi

 

Representative Sherry Roberts

 

Representative George A. Nardone

 

Representative Patricia L. Morgan

 

Representative Justin Price

 

 

 

Sean "Diddy" Combs is being ordered to remain locked up until sentencing after being found guilty of transporting people for prostitution. Combs was found not guilty of the most serious charges against him, including racketeering and sex trafficking. He is expected to be sentenced on October 3rd.        Speaker Mike Johnson says he's hopeful the House can pass President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" sometime tonight. Speaking to reporters this afternoon, Johnson said lawmakers are making progress and having good conversations and he thinks they can "proceed tonight," and "get this done." The House remains stalled, with lawmakers yet to take the initial procedural vote to set the terms for debate.        Bryan Kohberger has officially pleaded guilty to fatally stabbing four college students in Idaho. In a Boise court today, Kohberger sat motionless while he accepted a plea deal that takes the death penalty off the table for the 2022 murders. He only spoke the single words, "yes" and "no," as the judge went through the plea. The prosecution detailed the evidence it had against Kohberger, including his Amazon purchase history of the knife used to commit the murders.        A small plane crash at Cross Keys Airport in Gloucester County, New Jersey has left multiple people injured. The incident occurred when a small plane that was reportedly involved in skydiving operations crashed near the airport in Williamstown. The Gloucester County Emergency Management described the event as a "mass casualty incident" and advised the public to avoid the area to allow emergency vehicles access.        The Pentagon says U.S. strikes have knocked Iran's nuclear program back "closer to two years." Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell gave the assessment Wednesday -- one that's more optimistic than what UN inspectors have said. Last weekend, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran could be enriching uranium in a matter of months.        The Fourth of July travel period is in full swing. Triple-A is predicting over 72 million-people will venture at least 50 miles from home over the Independence Day holiday period that started on June 28th and goes through July 6th. That's an additional one-point-three-million road travelers compared to 2024.       

Old News Archives