On Monday, the business executives who gathered around their computers for the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce s annual legislative leaders forum voted 2 to 1 for legalization with this caveat: Employers could set their own workplace policies.
With a tweak in the wording of the question, those voting online favored legalization with employer protections 64% to 36%.
They did not, however, get an ironclad guarantee from one of the Senate s point-people on the development of this year s marijuana legislation: Senate Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey, who said we want to make sure we protect the businesses as best we can. And you don t have any objection to baking in those provisions for employers correct, Senator? Chamber President Laurie White asked McCaffrey.
RHODE ISLAND â New legislation could make the possibility of a more affordable higher education reality for more young Rhode Islanders.Â
Last week, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D â Dist. 23 - Warwick) and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio (D â Dist. 4 - North Providence, Providence) introduced legislation to permanently enact the Rhode Island Promise program, which provides up to two years of free tuition for eligible Ocean State residents at the Community College of Rhode Island.
Currently, the program is set to expire with the next, incoming fall class. New legislation on the table looks to remove this sunset clause altogether, however, making the program a permanent option for young high school graduates.Â
Governor Raimondo is leaving office, and the âSupermanâ building is still vacant
Raimondo accomplished many of her goals for rebooting Rhode Islandâs economy, but the stateâs tallest building will be among the most notable misses on her record.
By Dan McGowan Globe Staff,Updated February 4, 2021, 3:52 p.m.
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The Superman building the the largest commercial building in Rhode Island stands vacant.David L. Ryan/Globe Staff
PROVIDENCE â It was one of the most memorable campaign ads from Gina Raimondoâs first run for governor in 2014.
Raimondo, her husband, and their two children were riding their bikes across various parts of the state as Ceci, Raimondoâs daughter, told viewers about her momâs plan to create jobs, solve the stateâs infrastructure challenges, and finally begin construction on the former I-195 land in Providence.
In the end, the vote was 7 to 4 to raise the state s minimum wage to $12.25 by Oct. 1, 2021; $13 by Oct. 1, 2022; $14 by Oct. 1, 2023 and $15 by Oct. 1, 2024. The bill now goes to the full Senate for a vote.
The legislature s progressive Democrats, organized labor and Gov. Gina Raimondo in her farewell State of the State address before her anticipated departure to Washington have pushed for another round of minimum-wage hikes.
In her speech Wednesday night, Raimondo said: We’ve raised the minimum wage four times. Let’s keep going. Now, more than ever, hardworking people need a raise.
But the Senate Labor Committee vote on the minimum wage package was headed toward a 4-to-4 defeat with nay votes from Republican Jessica de la Cruz and Democrats Frank Lombardi, Frank Lombardo and Roger PIcard until Senate President Dominick Ruggerio and his top two lieutenants jumped in. (The Senate initially posted a vote tally that mistakenly attributed one of the nays to Sen. Sus