RI State Senate takes up bills to provide financial help to Federal workers during shutdown

The Rhode Island State Senate Finance Committee and the State Senate Judiciary Committee took up bills to financially help federal workers who have been furloughed or who have been working without pay. Senate Bill 0065 introduced by Senator William Conley Jr (Democrat, District 18, East Providence), “would enable city and town councils to grant tax relief from the payment of

Rhode Island News: RI State Senate takes up bills to provide financial help to Federal workers during shutdown

January 22, 2019, 10:13 pm

By Steve Ahlquist

The Rhode Island State Senate Finance Committee and the State Senate Judiciary Committee took up bills to financially help federal workers who have been furloughed or who have been working without pay.

Senate Bill 0065 introduced by Senator William Conley Jr (Democrat, District 18, East Providence), “would enable city and town councils to grant tax relief from the payment of taxes on real estate and personal property during periods where federal or state government cease governmental operations, in whole or in part, for employees of the state or federal government.”

“Third-quarter tax payments are coming up, and hundreds of Rhode Islanders are without the pay they expected,” said Conley in a press release. “Fortunately, there are many people in our communities who want to help them. This bill would allow cities and towns around the state to do just that, in whatever way works best for them, whether that’s a grace period, waiving penalties or something else. Our communities have reached out to us asking what they can do, and this will give them the flexibility to help in the way that they determine suits their needs.”

The legislation was passed out of committee for a full vote on the Senate floor:

The Federal Furloughed Employees Protection Act, Senate Bill 0085, introduced by Senator Dawn Euer (Democrat, District 13, Newport, Jamestown), “would provide protections to residents of this state furloughed by the federal government relating to civil proceedings, credit card transactions, payments relating to mortgages, leases and installment contracts.”

“Nobody should lose their home or their car or go into default on their student loans as a result of this shutdown,” said Euer in a press release. “Employees are either locked out or have been working without pay, and this financial hardship is no fault of theirs. Just as we afford similar protections to deployed service members, we should protect those who are going unpaid because of the shutdown from long-term financial consequences.”

The bill was held for further study:


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