Government
Public services and government action
Senators Reed, Gillibrand, and Collins introduce bipartisan legislation to protect transgender service members
[From a press release:] Following the recent United States Supreme Court ruling that will allow President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender military service to go into effect, United States Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (Democrat, New York...
House Judiciary hears Kazarian bill to reform solemnization of marriage
The Rhode Island House Judiciary Committee heard testimony Wednesday night in favor of reforming the process by which people seek temporary permission to officiate at weddings. The bill introduced by State Representative Katherine Kazari...
House Corporations Committee weighs bill to require signs in pharmacies warning about opioid addiction
State Representatives Justine Caldwell (Democrat, District 30, East Greenwich) and Michael Chippendale (Republican, District 40, Coventry, Foster Glocester) introduced a bipartisan bill, H5184, that would, "require that pharmacies displa...
Kazarian bill would put an end to legislators treating LGBTQ marriages separately
State Representative Katherine Kazarian (Democrat, District 63, East Providence) has introduced a bill, H5238, that would take away the power of some Rhode Island General Assembly legislators to pass judgement on marriages they disapprov...
Science may show why Senator Whitehouse and Governor Raimondo tacitly support local fossil fuel projects despite pro-environment claims
"If you have a chance to do a little bit of light reading in your spare time, I recommend a wonderful book called Bury the Chains, which is about a small group of people that banded together and successfully ended the industry of slavery...
Tuesday: bill protects your right to pay cash
As stores in many cities start to close their doors to consumers who prefer cash to credit, a Rhode Island lawmaker is trying to protect your right to shop as a cash-paying customer. Today, while most stores continue to welcome payment i...
Prostitution advocacy group launches national campaign to decriminalize sex work
[From a press release] In response to the new federal law that resulted in widespread censorship of websites that include sexual content, a new national organization has formed to repeal this law and decriminalize sex work nationwide. Th...
Tax cuts for the rich, even if they're dead, is a somehow a non-partisan issue
Both Democrats and Republicans were quick to champion the idea of eliminating the estate tax after the Providence Journal reported that former Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee was moving to Wyoming. Representative Stephen Ucci (Democ...
The 2019 Homeless Memorial Day Service
On Wednesday the Beneficent Church in Providence hosted the Homeless Memorial Day Service and Luncheon to "honor the memories of our loved ones who passed from this life in 2017 and 2018 while experiencing homelessness." The event was sp...
Representatives Corvese, Costantino and McNamara foolishly confuse parody for threat
Satire: The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. Melanie DuPont was the 123rd person to testify...