Patrick Quinn, executive vice president of SEIU Healthcare 1199NE, which represents almost 30,000 healthcare workers in Rhode Island and Connecticut, joins Bonus Q&A this week to discuss union influence on Smith Hill, the burden of local pension costs, and other issues.
Ian Donnis
One of the state’s top political reporters, Ian Donnis joined The Public’s Radio in 2009. Ian has reported on Rhode Island politics since 1999, arriving in the state just two weeks before the FBI raided City Hall and Buddy Cianci’s East Side home. Ian covers breaking news, develops in-depth features and investigative reports, and welcomes a range of newsmakers to “Political Roundtable” each week. He also writes our Friday political newsletter and maintains a strong social media presence.
For many years, Ian was a panelist on WPRI-TV’s Sunday morning public affairs show, Newsmakers, and he’s a regular guest on A Lively Experiment on Rhode Island PBS. His previous experience includes serving as news editor of The Providence Phoenix and as a reporter for the Associated Press and the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. He has a BS in journalism from Boston University.
Outside of work, Ian enjoys baseball, cooking, and exploring Rhode Island.
Posted inArticle, Politics
Senate Democrats Use Obscure Rule To Save Abortion Bill For Another Vote
Rhode Island Senate Democrats used an obscure legislative rule Tuesday to stop the chamber’s top two Republicans from defeating a bill meant to ensure abortion rights in the state, and to instead transfer it to a different committee, Health and Human Services, that has more abortion rights supporters, for a vote on Thursday. Senate Minority […]
Posted inArticle, Politics
Revised Abortion Bill Expected To Win Senate Judiciary Committee Approval
A revised bill meant to ensure abortion rights is expected to win approval Tuesday from the Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee, The Public’s Radio has learned. In one significant step, Sen. Stephen Archambault (D-Smithfield) — who was the swing vote when an earlier Senate version of the legislation was rejected last month — is now […]
Posted inArticle, Politics
Committee Vote On RI Abortion Bill Slated for Tuesday
The Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a vote Tuesday on a version of a bill meant to ensure abortion rights in the state. The committee last month rejected a Senate version of the bill on a 5 to 4 vote, while holding the House version for further study. The House of Representatives had […]
Posted inArticle, Politics
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Politics/Media Roundup For June 7
Thanks for stopping by for my weekly column. As usual, your tips and comments are welcome, and you can follow me through the week on the twitters. Here we go. At least until this week, the future of Rhode Island’s healthcare landscape was arguably the most important under-reported story in the state. So many things […]
Posted inEpisode, Political Roundtable
Bonus Q&A: Abney On Continuing Contracts, Regionalization & Whether RI Can Eliminate Its Structural Deficit
RI House Finance Chairman Marvin Abney (D-Newport) joins Bonus Q&A to discuss whether the state can eliminate its structural deficit; regionalization, continuing contracts, and other topics.
Posted inEpisode, Political Roundtable
Political Roundtable: Abney On RI Budget & Fresh Talks Between Lifespan, Brown and Care New England
RI House Finance Chairman Marvin Abney (D-Newport) joins Political Roundtable to discuss the emerging House budget, and renewed talks, brokered by Gov. Raimondo, between Care New England, Lifespan, and Brown University.
Posted inArticle, Politics
Raimondo Defends Budget Proposal As Lawmakers Consider Revisions
Rhode Island’s House Finance Committee is expected to unveil its changes to Governor Gina Raimondo’s budget proposal next week. Political reporter for The Public’s Radio Ian Donnis explains some of the changes expected to be made by lawmakers.
Posted inArticle, Politics
Q&A: Daniels On The Fiscal Health Of RI’s Cities And Towns
Rhode Island’s third-largest city, Warwick, faces growing questions about its budget outlook. To take a wider look at the fiscal health of the state’s municipalities, we sat down last week with executive director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns Brian Daniels. In short, Daniels said the state’s municipalities have show improvement over […]
Posted inArticle, Politics
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Politics/Media Rundown For May 31
Thanks for stopping by for my weekly column. As usual, your tips and comments are welcome, and you can follow me through the week on the twitters. Here we go. RI House Democrats took notice when their GOP colleagues opposed legislation in early May allowing Providence to borrow millions of dollars to improve school buildings. […]
