Projo Politics Blog

PROVIDENCE -- Governor Carcieri last night vetoed high-profile legislation that would prohibit mandatory overtime for hospital nurses and nurse's assistants.

"This bill addresses issues that should be negotiated through the collective bargaining process," Carcieri states in his veto message.

Carcieri said he is "cognizant of the demands that are sometimes placed on our health professionals and am appreciative particularly of the fine work performed by nurses throughout the state."

But the governor stated the legislation would "create an unimaginable dilemma" for hospitals tryings to comply.

Hospitals would be fined $300 per incident if found to have violated the elimination of mandatory overtime.

The bill's supporters have said it will protect patient safety, but Carcieri asserts a current nursing shortage would be "exacerbated" by the limitations the bill would put on hospitals.

The bill's supporters have said it will protect patient safety, but Carcieri asserts a current nursing shortage would be "exacerbated" by the limitations the bill would put on hospitals.

The Democratic House and Senate sponsors of the legislation called Carcieri's veto "unconscionable" in a news release.

"Passing this bill was a matter of public safety, and with this veto, the governor has indicated his lack of concern for the safety of nurses and their patients, as well," Rep. Raymond E. Gallison Jr., D-Bristol, said in the statement.

Gallison added that the veto "is totally contrary to government serving the common good."

Sen. John Tassoni Jr., D-Smithfield, called the veto "demeaning and utterly without merit or common sense."

Click here to read the bill.

The governor also vetoed a bill creating a state Department of Veterans Affairs and another bill that included a provision to tax healthcare beds, according to his veto messages this morning.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Comments

Chris F. said:

Way to go Gov., if only the general assembly had forced you to go after nurses before the last election! Oh, and don't forget--this bill was passed unanimously in both the house and senate.

Link | June 29, 2007 1:17 PM
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Joeye said:

What a hypocrite the governor is to state the bill should be dealt with in collective bargaining and not as part of legislation. It was Carcieri that set the tone by putting items he just finished negotiating in his budget bill. It was Carcieri who has time and again tried to supercede contracts. It was Carcieri who uses double speak when explaining his failures at DCYF, the budget, and the hiring of outside contractors.

Link | July 1, 2007 10:23 PM
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