Friday, May 3, 2013
Gov. Chafee signs the bill into law after final passage in the House; East Greenwich residents react.
In a jubilant ceremony on the steps of the Rhode Island State House Thursday afternoon, Governor Lincoln Chafee signed legislation making same-sex marriage legal in Rhode Island. It becomes the tenth state with such a law. His signature came after the state House of Representatives formally passed the legislation Thursday with a vote of 56-15. The first bill proposing same-sex marriage in Rhode Island was introduced 16 years ago. Felicia Revens, owner of Felicia's Coffee on Post Road in East Greenwich, was glad the bill had become law, but she was even just happy it was finally allowed to be voted on by both houses of the General Assembly. "At least everyone voted one way or another," she said via text. "I think it's just another step in…
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Your guide for life in East Greenwich today, April 24.
EGHS PTG meeting: You can learn about the plan to offer a program of Mandarin Chinese after school as a step toward including it as a regular language offering at today’s meeting. 9:30 a.m. at the high school. Senate to vote on same sex bill: Following passage of a same sex bill in the state Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday, the full Senate is scheduled to vote on same-sex marriage legislation today at 4 p.m. at the State House. Avenger Home Action: Several home games today, including Girls JV Fastpitch Softball against Exeter/W.G. at 3:30 p.m., Unified Basketball versus Westerly at 3:30 p.m., Girls and Boys Track Meet at 3:45 p.m., and Boys Volleyball against Warwick Vets at 6:30 p.m. You can follow all the Avenger action at the EG …
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
The EG senator says he hasn’t made a “firm decision” yet on voting to allow SSM legislation to be voted on by the full Senate.
State Sen. Lou Raptakis (D-Coventry, E.G., W.W.) has removed his name as a sponsor of legislation to hold a referendum on same sex marriage, but he’s stopped short of saying he will definitely support allowing a bill legalizing same sex marriage to be voted on by the full Senate. Raptakis is one of ten members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the panel in control of the legislation right now. Senate Bill 708, sponsored by Sen. Frank A. Ciccone III (D-Providence), would put a referendum before voters, asking if they want to legalize same-sex marriage by adding language to the state Constitution that defines marriage as "the legally-recognized union of two people." Senate Bill 38, sponsored by Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush (D-Pawtucket), would…
Friday, March 22, 2013
EG's Sen. Hodgson speaks out in favor of same-sex marriage while Fr. Healey of OLM came out against.
By midnight Thursday, people were still testifying for and against the same-sex marriage legislation (S-38) before the state Senate Judiciary Committee. More than 600 people signed up to testify and in groups of four they were called up. Both of East Greenwich's state senators sit on the Judiciary Committee. Sen. Dawson Hodgson (R-E.G., N.K., S.K., Narr.), early on spoke out in favor of the legislation: "If Rhode Islanders truly believe in family values, we need to value all families." To the comments from some that the legislation harms marriage, Hodgson said, "No matter what this committee does, it won't touch your marriage. That's one of the nice things about the separation of church and state." Sen. Lou Raptakis (D-Coventry, E.G., W.…
Sunday, February 3, 2013
He decries the Senate's "lack of urgency"; Rep. Giarrusso says these early days are for getting bills written and, in general, tackling smaller issues.
One month into the General Assembly's 2013 session, things haven't changed very much from this point two years ago, according to Sen. Dawson Hodgson (R-Dist. 35). "We’re about a month in, we’ve only had one or two calendars since inauguration day," Hodgson said, referring to days in which there's formal action on a bill. "This is the time of year when we show up and there’s no bill pending, there’s no votes ... on state business." Hodgson said inaction on same-sex marriage is one reason for the Senate's seeming "lack of urgency." "Whether you support same sex marriage or oppose it … these are deeply held motiviations and they are profound on both sides. For my colleagues who are deeply engaged on this issue on both sides, they deserve to…
DocStarry
7:06 am on Saturday, March 30, 2013
Yes to 38, no to 708! more ›