The death of Ruggerios gives changes in motion

The unexpected death of Rhode Island President Dominick Ruggerio at the age of 76 a week marks the end of an era in several ways on Monday.

Ruggerio, which was widespread by its members, was the longest -reigning legislator of the state, a bridge to the further 1980s. He was a democrat of the old school that had been equipped with organized workers, but he resisted the simple definition when he rose in the Senate and at the same time set a flexible management approach in accused topics such as weapons, climate change and abortion rights. The death of Ruggerios triggered tributes throughout the partisan spectrum:

In an explanation, the GOP chairman of the Senate Jessica de la Cruz (R-North Smithfield) took the view of many: “President Ruggerio was an effective leader and a man who held his word [he] leaves the legislator and the state of Rhode Iceland a remarkable legacy of service and commitment. It will be missing. “

Ruggerio died with his boots, as the saying says, and refused to give up the power when his health steadily deteriorated. President's unique heir, Senator Ryan W. Pearson (D-Cumberland), paid a political award for a change in the past year and lost his previous role as a majority leader. Last week Pearson was locked up in a fight for the subsequent Ruggerio compared to a slate from the majority leader Val Lawson (D-East Providence) and Sen. Frank Ciccone (D-Providence). And Lawson and Ciccone came to the top.

The letter of guidelines: For all of his advocates in the name of workers and other topics, President Ruggerio was seen as the main obstacle for at least two important questions: a ban on new sales of ceasefire in a storm style and a long-term effort, the interest rates that can be charged by the payday loans in Rhode Island to CAP efforts. In this session, Ruggerio gave the willingness to calculate the weapon question. What happens next is now more insecure, for a large extent, since Senator Ciccone is a strong follower for weapons rights. Another problem is the long -term drive to collect taxes on Rhode Islander in the upper incomes. In recent years, the former chairman of the majority of the Senate, Michael McCafrey, has at least publicly supported the topic, but it has never started among other legislative leaders.

The union factor: Val Lawson has had a rapid increase since the first win of the Senate election. It is not expected to be able to give up her role as President of the National Education Association Rhode Island-one, together with the background of Frank Ciccone as a former president and field representative of the Rhode Island Laborer 'District Council, who could strengthen the influence of unions in a chamber with a long-term pro-laboratory orientation. When asked whether the potential increase of Lawson would pronounce ethical concerns, John Marion, Executive Director of the common cause of Rhode Island, said by e -Mail: “As the top leader of the two chamber of the general assembly, it is extraordinary powers that have stipulated that Chamber's agenda of the chamber of the agenda and the collection of members of the chairpersons, and Speakers who are in the foreground in the areas of gaining profits due to the profit of houses that are no more than ordinary.

And there was really not much communication. So I don't know. I think we have to see how it plays out when we are able to get involved next week. “

District Four: The State Board of Elections provides for the provision to meet on May 6th to discuss the planning of a special election to fill the former seat of Ruggerios former Senate in District 4. Some of those who are seen as potential candidates are the former legal advisor to the Senate Nicole Verdi and the President of the city council of North Providence, Dino Autiello (both rejected their plans before the funeral of Ruggerio), the former representative of the state representative Marcia Ranglin-Vassell and the three-time candidate Lenny Cioe.

Pope Francis: David Wright captured the local grief for a man who was widely admired in the Catholic state of the nation, although he never came to Rhode Iceland: “Shortly before the lunch mass on Monday, the bells of the cathedral of Saint Peter and Paul in the Providence, 88 times, for every year of the Pope Francis. Coupling knees there. Never one foot in Rhode Island.

Housing: Ri Housing Secretary Deborah Goddard calls the new state housing plan, which she published this week with governor Dan McKee, an important step to make progress against the real estate crisis. At the same time, Goddard admits that it is surprised how the state has not yet rationalized its housing – a topic that aims to change the budget recently shown by McKee. “This goes back when I was asked to think at the beginning of August 2002,” she told me on a political roundtable. “Someone said he wanted help to set up the housing construction, and I thought what? And I googled Rhode Island. And I saw this thing called The Housing Resource Commission, but they had to go to the Foreign Ministry website to get information. [is] More than one organization with almost the same line line mission. I am surprised that financing decisions are in some organizations that have no direct accountability. “Don-Gov tried in 2005.

Health care: If the general assembly in June approaches a budget vote, there is great uncertainty about how the Trump management of Rhode Island's budget will affect. This complicated the efforts to tackle the state health crisis and how the reimbursement of public and private insurance is less than in Connecticut and Massachusetts. This is because even a small cut for Medicaid could blow a large hole in the state budget.

Immigration: A lot of people protested last Thursday outside of the Rhode Island Hospital after the supporters sent a warning message from immigrants, in which it had sent a person to record them. In an explanation, Lt. said Governor Sabina Matos that she and her office “report that ICE agent could refuse to provide an Rhode Islander the right to proper procedure by preventing speaking with your lawyer. We are still learning that all the facts that are involved in today's events, and I cannot use his lawyer with certainty. to enable “

Environment: The outlook for a bottle bill in Rhode Island remains unclear. Proponents say that Rhode Island is one of only two New England countries without a bottle law and they claim that his absence holds the efforts to improve local recycling. The opponents organized themselves in a coalition, stop the bottle tax from Rhode Island and they lean on how legislation would increase most glass, plastic and aluminum bottles and cans in the state.

2026 comes: Helena Foulkes has retained a low public profile and continued to collect donations for a run for the governor next year. Her campaign has canceled two planned appearances on political roundtable without being ready to commit to a new date. Foulkes is still planned to take part in a podcast – “What I hear from Rhode of Islanders – and how it shapes my perspective. A conversation with Helena Foulkes” – on Wednesday, April 30th, with Julie Owens, CEO of the greenhouse for social enterprise, at 9 a.m.

Podville: Speaking of Pods, the US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse spoke with Gavin Newsome about climate change.

Kicker: The statement that Rhode Island – or remains – is a top goal for wealthy people who are looking for a luxury house is reminiscent of the classic exchange between two known authors.

Fitzgerald: “The rich are different”

Hemingway: “Yes, you have more money.”