GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

29 New Members of the General Assembly Gear up for the 2011 Session

The 2011 session of the Rhode Island General Assembly is underway, with an unusually high number of newly-elected members getting ready to participate in the “lively experiment” that is Rhode Island state government.  In total, 29 of the 113 legislators in both chambers were newly elected in 2010, the largest number of newcomers since 1992.

In the Senate, seven of 38 members are new to the chamber this year, including five Republicans and two Democrats.  The party line-up in the Senate overall is 29 Democrats, eight Republicans and one Independent.

If you want to speak with someone who can confirm that “every vote counts,” check in with newcomer Frank Lombardo, the newly elected state senator from Johnston.  Lombardo was one of eight Democrats to run for an open seat in September’s primary.  Out of almost 6,000 votes cast, Lombardo won by only 9 votes.

The Senate also saw a change in leadership for this session as well.  Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed (D-Newport) retained her post.  However, Sen. Dominick Ruggerio (D-Providence, North Providence) was elected Majority Leader, filling the post left vacant by a retirement.  On the Republican side, Sen. Dennis Algiere (R-Westerly) retained the Minority Leader’s post.

On a percentage basis, the House saw a larger turnover, with 22 of 75 seats filled by newcomers. Of those new members, five are Republicans and the remainder Democrats.  Overall, only six of 75 state representatives are Republicans, and 69 are Democrats.  There are no Independents in the House.

House Speaker Gordon Fox (D-Providence) was re-elected to his post when the session began on the first Tuesday of January – the first day of the session proscribed in the state constitution.  Also retaining their posts were Majority Leader Nick Mattiello (D-Cranston) and Minority Leader Bob Watson (R-East Greenwich.)

The changes in membership affected the key House Finance Committee significantly. Half of the 16 members from last session did not return, including former chair Steven Costantino.  Costantino made an unsuccessful run for Mayor of Providence before being asked by Gov. Chafee to join the new administration.  

To replace Costantino as Finance chair, House Speaker Gordon Fox chose Rep. Helio Melo (D-East Providence).  Rep. Melo played a key role in the income-tax changes passed last year that reduced the state’s top tax rate, then one of the highest in the country, from 9.9 percent to 5.99 percent.

“As always, the Society will be ready to provide the kind of expertise we’ve presented in the past to help address Rhode Island’s budget issues,” said Robert Mancini, RISCPA Executive Director. “We’re always ready to pitch in.”