08/28/2008

Carcieri appeals union case to state Supreme Court
Governor Carcieri wants Supreme Court Justice Frank J. Williams to overrule a lower court ruling that blocks him from raising health-care costs for state workers.

08/27/2008

Governor blocked from hiking health costs
Carcieri says he is “outraged” by the judge’s decision, and has appealed to the state Supreme Court.

08/26/2008

Judge, 2 sides meet over union battle
At stake is the cost of health care for thousands of state workers and roughly $10 million the governor needs to balance the state budget.

08/25/2008

Joey Pants, AG Lynch to share stage in Denver
It’s no secret that this week’s Democratic National Convention is a political schmooze fest, but it’s also a chance for Rhode Island politicos to hobnob with the power players from Hollywood.

08/21/2008

Senate OKs new judges
Among the other appointments approved yesterday are nominees for fire marshal and state magistrates.

08/20/2008

Panel won’t review 6 Carcieri nominees
President Joseph A. Montalbano says the Senate committee refuses to act because the governor didn’t consider suggestions from affected groups.

08/13/2008

Bill’s focus is consumption of alcohol by minors
When he learned that three teenage lifeguards had apparently been drinking around the time their car was seen swerving in Jamestown earlier this summer — but that only the driver had been arrested — one state representative couldn’t believe it.

Welfare hearings tomorrow
The public will have an opportunity to comment on sweeping changes to Rhode Island’s welfare system tomorrow.

08/12/2008

Reviews for state’s film tax credit aren’t good
PROVIDENCE –– The movie stars keep coming.

08/07/2008

Carcieri’s plan for union health insurance now on hold
Judge Patricia A. Hurst delays her ruling for up to two weeks on whether the governor’s planned cost increases should be barred.

08/06/2008

Medicaid waiver plan puts neediest at risk, critics say
The only hearing on the governor’s plan to set a five-year spending cap on some of the state’s health-care costs unveils lots of worrying.

07/30/2008

Governor seeks waiver to cap Medicaid at $12.4 billion
The governor would agree to limit Medicaid spending — one quarter of the state budget — through 2013 in exchange for broad authority to change services.

Governor seeks waiver to cap Medicaid at $12.4 bilion
The governor would agree to limit Medicaid spending — one quarter of the state budget — through 2013 in exchange for broad authority to change services.

Dave Barber: Bringing a little pizzazz to Smith Hill
While some call Barber’s taxpayer-financed broadcasts on Capitol TV informative, others say they’re little more than infomercials for legislators.

07/29/2008

Council 94 files labor complaint against Carcieri
The state Labor Relations Board will hold a hearing to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to issue a complaint against the governor.

Council 94 files labor complaint against Carcieri
The state Labor Relations Board will hold a hearing to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to issue a complaint against the governor.

07/28/2008

Immigration legislation? Begorra!
Even a topic as weighty as immigration deserves a little levity.

07/27/2008

Union vote to reject contract offer puts state budget in doubt
The rebellion by rank-and-file workers intensifies the state’s fiscal woes.

07/26/2008

Carcieri rejects talks with Council 94
After members of the largest union of state employees reject an agreement accepted by their leaders, the governor refuses to negotiate further.

07/25/2008

A resounding no from unions to Carcieri
Council 94, which represents about one-third of all state employees, votes 2,870 to 196 to reject a contract offer that the governor says would save the state $10 million.

A resounding no from unions to Carcieri
Council 94, which represents about one-third of all state employees, votes 2,870 to 196 to reject a contract offer that the governor says would save the state $10 million.

07/24/2008

Union members’ votes on new state contract tallied today
“I know it’s a tough deal, but we still encouraged them to approve it because we feel it was the best deal to be had,” says one union leader.

07/21/2008

Budget savings plan not detailed
Six months after Governor Carcieri proposed saving $67 million by seeking a global Medicaid waiver, no written plan has been released.

Saturday session means extra time off for State House workers
For some State House employees, the General Assembly’s decision to wrap up the year during an unusual Saturday session was a bonanza.

07/20/2008

5 of 18 Assembly Republicans abandon ship
Five of 18 Assembly Republicans won’t run for reelection, but GOP leaders say state budget woes may actually help the party in November.

07/18/2008

Court raids put focus on companies suspected of hiring illegal immigrants
State officials talk tough about employers of suspected illegal immigrants who were taken into custody while working in the state’s courthouses.

Court raids put focus on companies suspected of hiring illegal immigrants
State officials talk tough about employers of suspected illegal immigrants who were taken into custody while working in the state’s courthouses.

Court raids put focus on companies suspected of hiring illegal immigrants
State officials talk tough about employers of suspected illegal immigrants who were taken into custody while working for the state.

Ballots finalized for state offices
The biggest surprise from last night’s certification of papers for General Assembly races is that Sen. Kevin A. Breene, R-W. Greenwich, will not seek reelection.

Ballots finalized for state offices
The biggest surprise from last night’s certification of papers for General Assembly races is that Sen. Kevin A. Breene, R-W. Greenwich, will not seek reelection.

07/15/2008

Court won’t review privatization law
A request by the governor became moot when a compromise measure was passed by the Assembly.

07/14/2008

Standing invitation led to copter ride, Roberts’ office says
Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts caused a stir last week over her decision to travel to the state’s most prestigious July 4th celebration in a Black Hawk helicopter.

07/12/2008

Health-care help for immigrants available, just not publicized
Lawmakers approved $1.2 million for basic primary care, but none of that money has flowed to local health centers.

07/11/2008

Group meets to plan combining towns
FOSTER — Maybe years from now, Rhode Islanders will recall an unairconditioned fire house in a quiet rural town where a couple of dozen average citizens gathered on a humid summer evening to talk about new ways of organizing local government.

Westconnaug seeds sown
FOSTER — Maybe years from now, Rhode Islanders will recall an unairconditioned fire house in a quiet rural town where a couple of dozen average citizens gathered on a humid summer evening to talk about new ways of organizing local government.

Westconnaug seeds sown
FOSTER — Maybe years from now, Rhode Islanders will recall an unairconditioned fire house in a quiet rural town where a couple of dozen average citizens gathered on a humid summer evening to talk about new ways of organizing local government.

Urciuoli retrial details emerge
Federal prosecutors say they don’t plan to call former state Sen. John Celona to testify again.

07/10/2008

Meeting tonight on possible 5-town combine
FOSTER — State Rep. Nicholas Gorham (R-Coventry, Foster, Glocester) is hosting a meeting tonight at the South Foster Fire Department to discuss Westconnaug, his proposed “super town” combining five and a half communities in the rural western part of state.

Gorham undaunted in effort to make ‘super town’ reality
FOSTER — State Rep. Nicholas Gorham, R-Coventry, will hold a public meeting this evening at the South Foster Fire Department to discuss Westconnaug, his proposed “super town” combining 5 ½ communities in the rural western part of state.

Retirements help state top 1,000 job cuts
Governor Carcieri estimates savings for Rhode Island at “north of $80 million.” “I think it’s a huge success,” he says.

Victory, then vetoes
PROVIDENCE — For a time, it looked like a memorable year for the prisoners rights lobby.

07/09/2008

Proponents say Malik pushed hard for industrial polluters legislation
Environmental advocates say state Rep. Jan Malik, D-Warren, Barrington, tried his best to get passage of legislation raising maximum fines against industrial polluters to $25,000 — a change that was ultimately doomed when the General Assembly ended its 2008 session.

Assembly’s backup plan: Let’s study it
By the close of this year’s legislative session, lawmakers had created no less than 15 study commissions, bringing the total to nearly 80.

Carcieri vetoes legislation backed by city
PROVIDENCE — City leaders spent last week cheering the success of the city’s legislative package at the General Assembly this year, but that jubilation was short-lived; late last week, Governor Carcieri promptly vetoed several major bills related to Providence.

07/08/2008

College-level politics becomes fodder in race for West Warwick House seat
WEST WARWICK — College-level politics has become campaign fodder in the Republican primary for the District 27 seat in the House of Representatives.

07/07/2008

A disenchanted Smith won’t seek 11th House term
State Rep. Steven F. Smith, D-Providence, made an informal but significant announcement on Federal Hill last week when spotted outside Venda Ravioli.

Amended party-host law closes loophole
As amended, the law also provides driver’s license suspensions and other noncriminal penalties for under-21 hosts of drinking parties.

07/06/2008

Student locator tags: Evil or helpful?
Tracking devices on students’ backpacks are “Big Brother at its scariest,” says the ACLU. Governor Carcieri disagrees.

Tiverton residents dismayed by fate of bill
A measure to increase daily fines on industrial polluters dies in the House environmental committee despite broad support.

07/04/2008

Elections Board won’t order release of nominating papers
PROVIDENCE — Going against the advice of their own lawyer, members of the state Board of Elections yesterday refused to order Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis, a Democrat, to release nominating papers for five disputed GOP candidates for the overwhelmingly Democratic General Assembly.

Expungement, public records bills vetoed
The measures were but 2 of 36 proposal laws that Governor Carcieri vetoed yesterday.

07/03/2008

Supreme Court declines to rule on GOP candidates
The Board of Elections must first decide whether the five Republicans can fill open slots in the party’s General Assembly slate.

07/02/2008

State elections board to decide status of would-be Senate candidate
WEST WARWICK — The state Board of Elections will meet tomorrow morning to decide whether Republican John J. Clarke Jr. is a legitimate candidate for the District 9 Senate seat held by Democrat Stephen D. Alves.

New pension eligibility rules for judges, state police
New troopers will have to work longer, and new judges will have to make do with 90 percent of their former salaries.

GOP wants court to allow 5 candidates
The status of five Republican candidates for the General Assembly is in limbo after local election officials rejected the candidacies.

Slowly, R.I. budget cuts begin to take hold
With the start of the new fiscal year, some programs are already affected by spending reductions while others won’t be affected until later in the year.

Carcieri vetoes bills on jail time, bridge
His rejection of a proposal to rename the Sakonnet River Bridge prompts one legislator to call the move “pure political games.”

07/01/2008

State GOP appeals rejection of candidates
The state’s Republican Party is blaming the secretary of state’s office for giving bad advice, but that office denies any advice was given.

06/30/2008

Raptakis gives Sen. Paiva Weed failing grades