Projo Politics Blog

May 31, 2009 - June 6, 2009 Archives


Biden, key members of Obama administration cancel attendance at mayors event

4:29 PM Fri, Jun 05, 2009 | | Write a comment
By News staff    Email

By Lynn Arditi Journal staff writer PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Vice President Joseph Biden and key members of the Obama administration have canceled plans to attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors annual meeting -- which begins next Friday in Providence --......

social bookmarking


Assembly leaders huddle with governor

4:42 PM Thu, Jun 04, 2009 | | Comments (1)
By Steve Peoples    Email

As the General Assembly races toward the end of its 2009 legislative session, its most powerful members met behind closed doors with Governor Carcieri Thursday afternoon. Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed joined House Speaker William J. Murphy in the......

social bookmarking


Senate delays vote on open records bill

1:16 PM Thu, Jun 04, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Steve Peoples    Email

The state Senate has delayed today's scheduled vote on a plan to change Rhode Island's public records law. Prompted by concerns raised by open records advocates last month, the bill's sponsor, J. Michael Lenihan, D-East Greenwich, is still working to......

social bookmarking


Christian network reporting on R.I. gay marriage debate

1:09 PM Thu, Jun 04, 2009 | | Comments (17)
By Steve Peoples    Email

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- We spotted an unfamiliar camera crew in the State House this week and learned that the Virginia-based Christian Broadcast Network was in town to do a report on Rhode Island's gay marriage debate. Sen. Charles J. Levesque,......

social bookmarking


Update: Whitehouse questions Sotomayor on her judicial demeanor

sotomayor_sheldon_whitehous.jpg 10:14 AM Wed, Jun 03, 2009 | | Comments (2)
By Jack Perry    Email

By John E. Mulligan Journal Washington Bureau Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor meets with U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse in his office on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday. AP photo By John E. Mulligan Journal Washington Bureau WASHINGTON -- Federal......

social bookmarking


Reed: 'Difficult decisions' ahead on health-care overhaul

6:46 PM Tue, Jun 02, 2009 | | Write a comment
By News staff    Email

WASHINGTON -- President Obama on Tuesday urged key Senate Democrats - including Rhode Island's Jack Reed - to help deliver a sweeping overhaul of the medical system during the "make-or-break period'' between now and August. Reed left the meeting, in......

social bookmarking


R.I. religious leaders urge Assembly to delay welfare cuts

6:09 PM Tue, Jun 02, 2009 | | Comments (1)
By Steve Peoples    Email

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A handful of Rhode Island's top religious leaders gathered in the State House Tuesday afternoon to urge elected officials to back off plans to cut 3,000 low-income families off Rhode Island's welfare rolls at the end of......

social bookmarking


R.I. Senate passes domestic partner funeral rights bill

5:38 PM Tue, Jun 02, 2009 | | Comments (1)
By Maria Armental    Email

By Katherine Gregg Journal State House Bureau PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Responding to one of the more heart-wrenching personal stories to emerge from the same-sex marriage debate, the Rhode Island Senate Tuesday unanimously approved a bill giving "domestic partners'' the right......

social bookmarking


R.I. House plans hearing on potential pension changes

3:56 PM Tue, Jun 02, 2009 | | Comments (1)
By Katherine Gregg    Email

PROVIDENCE,R.I. -- House Democratic leaders have scheduled a hearing for Friday on potential changes to the state pension system. The House Finance hearing on the undisclosed package begins at noon at the State House. After more than a year......

social bookmarking


Hearings set on raises for R.I. officials

5:56 PM Mon, Jun 01, 2009 | | Comments (2)
By Katherine Gregg    Email

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Raises are in the offing for a handful of state officials. On Tuesday, Department of Administration director Gary Sasse will hold a public hearing on proposed salary increases for the chief medical examiner; the executive director of......

social bookmarking


R.I. secretary of state won't appeal ballot-access ruling

4:31 PM Mon, Jun 01, 2009 | | Comments (1)
By Alan Rosenberg    Email

By John Hill Journal Staff Writer PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Rhode Island Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis said today he will not press for an appeal of Friday's federal court ruling throwing out the election law that limited when new......

social bookmarking


Now hear this: New sidewalk in the works

6:00 AM Mon, Jun 01, 2009 | | Write a comment
By News staff    Email

By Cynthia Needham Journal State House Bureau You know times are tough when a top legislative honcho is putting out news releases heralding upgraded sidewalks on one street in his hometown. "Speaker of the House William J. Murphy is pleased......

social bookmarking


Governor's office misspoke on root of its deficit

6:00 AM Mon, Jun 01, 2009 | | Comments (1)
By News staff    Email

By Katherine Gregg Journal State House Bureau PROVIDENCE -- Whoops. After a closer look at the looming $589,218 deficit in Governor Carcieri's $4.7-million office budget, his apologetic spokeswoman, Amy Kempe, acknowledged apologetically that she was wrong when she attributed......

social bookmarking