Woonsocket Radio News Room

 


WEEKLY MEDIA SPOTLIGHT

 

Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz : It's time to vote on pay raises
When Governor Dan McKee requested pay raises for his cabinet directors for the second time in barely a 6-month span, Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz and Senate Minority Whip Gordon Rogers were quick to respond by calling for an up or down vote by the General Assembly.  Read the full press release here.

WEEKLY  LEGISLATIVE  HIGHLIGHTS

Morgan bill would limit who can mail voters’ mail ballots.
Senator Elaine Morgan (R-Dist. 34, Charlestown, Exeter, Hopkinton, Richmond, West Greenwich) introduced the legislation (S-0395), ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS – MAIL BALLOTS. The bill Requires that only the mail ballot voter or their spouse/court appointed guardian/cohabitant/or adult person related to the voter by blood or marriage, be allowed to physically mail the voted mail ballot. The bill was referred to Senate Judiciary.  On March 7, the committee recommended the measure be held for further study.

Paolino bill would increase aggregate limit for tax credits.
Senator Thomas Paolino (R-Dist. 17, Lincoln, North Providence, North Smithfield) introduced the legislation (S-0267), ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- TAX CREDITS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCHOLARSHIP ORGANIZATIONS.  The legislation would increase the aggregate amount of tax credits for contributions to scholarship organizations to $5,000,000 for 2024.  The bill has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee.

SESSION  HIGHLIGHTS

The Senate Minority Caucus was excited to welcome Leader Emeritus Dennis L. Algiere back to the Senate chamber on Thursday, March 16, as the General Assembly honored Irish and Italian cultures with their traditional celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day and St. Joseph’s Day.  The Senate session included an Irish heritage address delivered by former Senate Majority Leader Michael J. McCaffrey and an Italian heritage address delivered by former Senate Minority Leader Dennis L. Algiere. 

Read the Senate Resolution honoring Senator Dennis L. Algiere for his service to the people of the state of Rhode Island here. 

SENATE MINORITY NEWS

The Senate Minority Office extends proud congratulations to Senate Minority Whip Gordon Rogers on his appointment to the Rhode Island Emergency Management Advisory Council. Read full release here.
 

COMMUNITY  ENGAGEMENTS

Senator Anthony DeLuca welcomed students from Tollgate High School in Warwick to visit the Senate Minority Office during their tour of the State House March 16th.  

Wall Street is closing sharply higher to end the holiday-shortened week. Stocks soared on the heels of a strong jobs report and lawmakers passing a debt ceiling deal that avoids a U.S. default. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 701 points to 33-762. The S&P 500 added 61 points to 42-82. The Nasdaq rose 139 points to 13-240.       The debt ceiling bill passed by Congress will be the subject when President Biden addresses the nation this evening. The House passed the bill Wednesday and the Senate followed suit on Thursday. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen reiterated "the full faith and credit of the United States must never be used as a bargaining chip."       Federal regulators are warning users of payment apps that they don't have the same protections as traditional banks. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Director said in a statement that Venmo and PayPal users should not store cash in the app. More than 75-percent of U.S. adults have used at least one payment app, according to the agency.       The list of GOP presidential candidates is growing, but there's no guarantee everyone will get to be in the first debate. The Republican National Committee is reportedly setting stricter standards to qualify for the August debate in Milwaukee. According to the Washington Post, requirements may include a minimum of 40-thousand individual campaign donors and support from at least one-percent of voters in multiple national polls.        Coffee shops in California wouldn't be allowed to sell weed, but weed dispensaries are a step closer to selling coffee. The California State Assembly voted 64 to 9 in favor of allowing weed dispensaries to serve food and host areas where it's legal to consume the herb. State Representative Matt Haney is the author of the bill, which he says will help boost business.       There will be a "Spider-Man 4," but the writers strike has put everything on "pause." Actor Tom Holland says meeting were happening, but they stopped in solidarity with the writers. Holland starred as Peter Parker in three previous "Spider-Man" films.       

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