Projo Politics Blog

House leaders are planning a holiday fete at the Viking Hotel in Newport next month for all 75 members of the state House of Representatives, Republicans and Democrats alike.

But no, they are not planning to use any of the money in their own $37.8-million budget, which includes about $2 million of earmarked, but unspent, legislative grant money from last year, according to House spokesman Larry Berman.

“This is the sixth consecutive year that Speaker Bill Murphy and Majority Leader Gordon Fox will host a holiday dinner for all 75 members of the House of Representatives. No taxpayer money has ever been spent on this event. As in years past, Speaker Murphy and Leader Fox request that each representative provide a new item of clothing for donation to Crossroads Rhode Island,” Berman said.

With the state facing potential deficits of up to $150 million this year and $450 million next year, Berman said Murphy and Fox plan to dig into their own campaign accounts to pay the tab.

Speaking through Berman, Murphy said: “This dinner is an opportunity for all representatives to gather in a social setting before the start of a new legislative session,” said Murphy, through Berman. (Senate leaders usually host their own holiday party, but this year’s plans have not yet been announced.)

For the record, the General Assembly’s current-year budget works out mathematically to about $334,199 in staff, grants, and legislative salaries for each of the state’s 113 part-time representatives and senators.

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