By Randal Edgar
Journal Staff Writer

As a former union business agent and the publisher of a monthly newspaper that focuses on union members, Sen. John J. Tassoni, D-Smithfield, has obvious ties to organized labor.

But last week, as the Senate churned its way through a charged debate on a bill that would have allowed binding arbitration for teachers and school employees, Tassoni was the only senator who did not participate. He did not vote on any of the five proposed floor amendments, or a motion to move the bill to the next day's calendar, or the bill itself.
Asked why, the Senate Housing and Municipal Government Committee Chairman told Political Scene he was "advised by counsel not to vote" because he is on the state list of qualified mediators to call when there is a local labor dispute.

Tassoni has held that status since 2009. To date, he says his company, The Sentinel Group, has handled no cases.

Asked how he would have voted on the bill if he had not recused himself, Tassoni replied: "In the affirmative." (Tassoni was one of three co-sponsors of the legislation.)

Even without his vote, the measure passed in the Senate a tally of 20 to 17, only to die in the House on the final day of the legislative session, when House Speaker Gordon D. Fox announced the issue was complicated to be rushed and needed more time.
For the record, the senators who voted in favor of the bill were Frank A. Ciccone III, D-Providence; Daniel DaPonte, D-East Providence; Frank A. DeVall Jr., D-East Providence; Louis P. DiPalma, D-Middletown; James E. Doyle II, D-Pawtucket; Hanna M. Gallo, D-Cranston; Maryellen Goodwin, D-Providence; Paul V. Jabour, D-Providence; Beatrice A. Lanzi, D-Cranston; Erin P. Lynch, D-Warwick; Michael J. McCaffrey, D-Warwick; Harold M. Metts, D-Providence; Joshua Miller, D-Cranston; Rhoda E. Perry, D-Providence; Juan M. Pichardo, D-Providence; James C. Sheehan, D-North Kingstown; V. Susan Sosnowski, D-South Kingstown; and William A. Walaska, D-Warwick; as well as Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed, D-Newport; and Majority Leader Dominick J. Ruggerrio, D-North Providence, who also voted as ex officio members of the Senate Labor Committee to send the bill to the Senate floor.
Voting against the bill were Sens. Dennis L. Algiere, R-Westerly; David E. Bates, R-Barrington; Marc A. Cote, D-Woonsocket; Elizabeth A. Crowley, D-Central Falls; Walter S. Felag Jr., D-Warren; Paul W. Fogarty, D-Glocester; Dawson Hodgson, R-North Kingstown; Nicholas D. Kettle, R-Coventry; Frank Lomardo III, D-Johnston; Francis T. Maher Jr., R-Exeter; Bethany L Maura, R-Cumberland; Donna M. Nesselbush, D-Pawtucket; Edward J. O-Neill, I-Lincoln; Christopher S. Ottiano, R-Portsmouth; Roger A. Picard, D-Woonsocket; Michael J. Pinga, D-West Warwick; and Glenford J. Shibley, R-Coventry.