Woonsocket Radio News Room

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This week at the

General Assembly

 

STATE HOUSE — Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly this week. For more information on any of these items visit http://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease

 

 

§  General Assembly convenes 2019 session
The General Assembly began its 2019 session with 14 new representatives in the House and seven new senators. Democrats increased their ranks by two members in the House, which is now made up of 66 Democrats and nine Republicans. The Senate remains at 33 Democrats and five Republicans. More women were elected to both chambers. The House, which had 23 women in the previous term, now includes 26 women, and the Senate includes 16, up from 13 at the end of the previous session.

§  Mattiello re-elected Speaker of the House for new term
Rep. Nicholas A. Mattiello (D-Dist. 15, Cranston) was re-elected speaker of the house for the 2019-20 legislative session. First elected to the House in 2006, Speaker Mattiello was elected to lead the chamber in March 2014 after having served as Democratic majority leader since 2010.
Click here to see news release.

§  Ruggerio re-elected President of the Senate

Sen. Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) was re-elected to the office of president during opening day ceremonies in the Rhode Island Senate. He was first elected to the position in March 2017, and began his first full term in the chamber’s top post after being sworn into office. He previously served as Senate majority leader.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate re-elects Metts as president pro tempore, Crowley as deputy

The Rhode Island Senate re-elected Sen. Harold M. Metts (D-Dist. 6, Providence) as president pro tempore and Sen. Elizabeth A. Crowley (D-Dist. 16, Central Falls, Pawtucket) as deputy president pro tempore during the opening day ceremonies of the Senate. 

Click here to see news release.

 

§  House Democratic Caucus re-elects Majority Leader Shekarchi and team

The House Democratic Caucus in November elected Rep. K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) as majority leader for the 2019-20 legislative session. The caucus also elected Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton, Portsmouth) as majority whip, Rep. Christopher R. Blazejewski (D-Dist. 2, Providence) as deputy majority whip, Rep. Charlene M. Lima (D-Dist. 14, Cranston, Providence) as deputy speaker; Rep. Brian P. Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly) as speaker pro tempore; and Rep. Grace Diaz (D-Dist. 11, Providence) as Democratic Caucus chairwoman.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  House Republicans elect Minority Leader Filippi, Whip Chippendale

The House Republicans in November elected Rep. Blake A. Filippi (R-Dist. 36, New Shoreham, Charlestown, South Kingstown, Westerly) as minority leader for the 2019-20 legislative session. The caucus also elected Rep. Michael W. Chippendale (R-Dist. 40, Foster, Glocester, Coventry) as minority whip, Rep. Justin K. Price (R-Dist. 39, Richmond, Hopkinton, Exeter) as senior deputy minority leader, Rep. Sherry Roberts (R. Dist. 29, Coventry, West Greenwich) as deputy whip; and Rep. Robert Quattrocchi (R-Dist. 41, Scituate, Cranston) as deputy minority leader.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate Democrats re-elect Majority Leader McCaffrey

Senate Democrats in November re-elected Sen. Michael J. McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29, Warwick) as majority leader for the 2019-20 legislative session.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate Republicans re-elect Minority Leader Algiere, Whip Morgan

Senate Republicans in November re-elected Sen. Dennis L. Algiere (R-Dist. 38, Charlestown, South Kingstown, Westerly) as minority leader for the 2019-20 legislative session. The caucus also named Sen. Elaine J. Morgan (R-Dist. 34, Charlestown, Exeter, Hopkinton, Richmond, West Greenwich) as minority whip and Sen. Thomas J. Paolino, (R-Dist. 17, Lincoln, North Providence, North Smithfield) as senior deputy minority leader.

Click here to see news release.

 

House names Rules Committee
House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello appointed the 17-member House Rules Committee, which will be led by Chairman Arthur J. Corvese (D-Dist. 55, North Providence). The committee will discuss and propose to the full House membership a set of rules and procedures for the chamber in the 2019-2020 session.                 

                                   

 

 

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For an electronic version of this and all press releases published by the Legislative Press and Public Information Bureau, please visit our Web site at www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease.

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Arizona grand jury is indicting the 11 "fake electors" who were backing then-President Trump in 2020. A month after the election, the 11 people got together at the state's GOP headquarters to sign a certificate claiming to be Arizona's 11 electors to the Electoral College, although Biden had won by thousands of votes. His electors were also certified by state officials.        The Supreme Court will hear arguments Thursday on Donald Trump's claim he has absolute immunity on charges of attempting to overturn the 2020 election. The outcome could determine whether Trump faces a federal trial this year on four felony counts brought by special counsel Jack Smith, which include conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and obstruction of an official proceeding. Trump's legal team argues the former president should have absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for any official acts taken while in office.        House Speaker Mike Johnson is demanding the president of Columbia University resign unless she reigns in anti-semitic protests. Speaking on the campus steps of the New York school with other GOP lawmakers, Johnson said no Jewish student should have to live in fear. His comments come as pro-Palestinian protests continue against Israel's war with Hamas.        The Biden Administration says it aims to cut freight emissions in the U.S. to zero. On Wednesday, officials laid out their goal to cut down harmful emissions from freight shipping. The White House says they hope to reach net-zero emissions in the transportation sector, and the entire U.S. economy, by 2050.        A new report can tell you if you're still earning enough to be considered middle class. Finance site SmartAsset analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Pew Research Center to determine the middle class salary range in all 50 states. The national middle class salary range is 49-thousand-271-dollars to 147-thousand-828-dollars.        The MTV Video Music Awards are returning to New York. For the first time since 2021, the show will be back in New York and this time it will take place on Long Island at the UBS Arena in Elmont. It's the first for the arena and the show is set for September 10th. UBS Arena is the sixth New York arena to host the awards show.       

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