PROVIDENCE -- William Murphy has just been elected to his fourth term as speaker of the R.I. House of Representatives, as the General Assembly begins its new session today.

Murphy, of West Warwick, got the loyal backing of his party, with 67 of 69 fellow Democrats voting for him.

The only opposition came in the form by a bid by House Minority Leader Robert Watson, R-East Greenwich. Watson, too, was backed by his party. The tiny six-member GOP block gave him his only votes.

-- With reports from Katharine Gregg, Journal State House bureau