Projo Politics Blog

Most years, it is an honor to be named to the House Finance Committee, the 16-member body responsible for crafting the state's budget.

This year, that honor is dubious at best. As they struggle to fix the state's crippling budget problems, Finance Committee members will face hours upon hours of hearings that stretch late into the night and demand tough decisions.

But key House lawmakers have followed through on a promise to make new committee appointments within the first week of the session, starting the hard work now, not later.

Yesterday, House Speaker William J. Murphy named six new members to the Finance Committee, filling seats left vacant by retirements or November defeats. The new members will have little time to settle in. Their first committee hearing will be held this afternoon.

The new committee members are: David Caprio, D-Narragansett; Laurence Ehrhardt, R-North Kingstown; Joanne Giannini, D-Providence; Nicholas Mattiello, D-Cranston; Helio Melo, D-East Providence; Agostinho Silva, D-Central Falls.

 Tags  Agostinho Silva Central Falls Cranston David Caprio East Providence Finance Committee Helio Melo Joan Giannini Laurenec Ehrhardt Mattiello Narragansett Nicholas North Kingstown Providence Rhode Island House of Representatives William Murphy

---