This Week In The General Assembly

Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly for the week ending March 11, 2011. For more information on any of these items visit http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/News/

General Assembly receives Chafee’s budget proposal
The General Assembly received Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee’s $7.66 billion proposed budget (2011-H 5894), which includes plans to lower the general sales tax to 6 percent but expand it to more products and services; a new 1-percent sales tax on items and services not currently taxed; $682 million in funding for schools under the new education aid formula and a $19.3 million boost in aid to cities and towns. The bill now goes to the House Finance Committee for hearings.

Senate Judiciary meeting to hear same-sex marriage bills
The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on bills pertaining to same-sex marriage, including one (2011-S 0029) sponsored by Sen. Rhoda E. Perry (D-Dist. 3, Providence) to allow same-sex marriage, one (2011-S 0162) sponsored by Sen. John J. Tassoni Jr. (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, North Smithfield) to put a question on the ballot to define marriage as being between one man and one woman, another (2011-S 0115) sponsored by Sen. Frank A. Ciccone III (D-Dist. 7, Providence, North Providence) to ask voters to limit marriage to one man and one woman but allow the recognition of civil unions, a bill (2011-S 0376) sponsored by Sen. Dawson Tucker Hodgson (R-Dist. 35, North Kingstown, East Greenwich, Warwick) to create “domestic unions” and a bill (2011-S 0377) sponsored by Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton) to create “reciprocal beneficiary agreements” to allow two people ineligible for marriage to obtain certain rights and responsibilities.
Click here to see news release.

Guthrie bills call for higher tax bracket for state’s wealthiest
Heard by the House Committee on Finance this week were two bills introduced by Rep. Scott J. Guthrie (D-Dist. 28, Coventry) intended to give legislators options to tackle the budget deficit. One bill (2011-H 5171) would add a fourth tax bracket – at 7.99 percent – for those with income of more than $500,000, which could add about $88 million to the state’s tax collections next year. The other bill (2011-H 5170) would add a fourth tax bracket of 9.99 percent for those with income over $500,000, netting the state an additional $190 million in tax revenue next year.
Click here to see news release.

Sales tax holidays proposed
Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown) and Rep. Lisa Baldelli Hunt (D-Dist. 49, Woonsocket) have introduced separate bills to institute sales tax holidays in Rhode Island to boost business and stay competitive with neighboring states. Representative Ruggiero’s bill (2011-H 5280) would create a sales tax holiday the third Saturday of each August. Representative Baldelli Hunt’s bill (2011-H 5607) would allow Rhode Island to have up to two sales tax holidays each year to match sales tax holidays declared in our neighboring states.
Click here to see Ruggiero news release.
Click here to see Baldelli Hunt news release.

New rules in House, Senate to increase transparency, accessibility
The House of Representatives and Senate this week took action on proposed changes to the operating procedures of the individual chambers. Although different, the bills in the House and Senate are both intended to increase the transparency of actions by the legislature and enhance the Assembly’s continuing efforts to make government more open and accessible to the public. Approved by the House was (2011-H 5316Aaa), introduced by Rep. Peter G. Palumbo (D-Dist. 16, Cranston). Passed by committee and expected to be voted on by the full Senate next week is (2011-S 0174Aaa), sponsored by Sen. James E. Doyle II (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket).