Rhode Island Senate President Val Lawson said she supports a bill to cap payday lending in the state — a sign that the long-running battle to curb a practice that critics say traps poor people in a cycle of debt might be drawing to a close. However, Lawson offered a caveat, and opponents of restricting […]
General Assembly
Posted inLocal, Politics
Advocates renew call to modernize government transparency in Rhode Island
Supporters of government transparency are renewing their push to modernize Rhode Island’s Access to Public Records Act, or APRA, for the first time since 2012. Ahead of legislative hearings, advocates are gathering at the Statehouse on Wednesday to urge support for bills sponsored by Sen. Louis DiPalma (D-Middletown) and state Rep. Patricia Serpa (D-West Warwick). […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for May 9, 2025
If Gina Raimondo was still governor, she could roll out her meatloaf recipe while talking on Real Housewives of RI. You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** 1. STORY OF […]
Posted inPolitical Roundtable, Politics
RI House GOP Leader Mike Chippendale on Trump’s tariffs, government accountability and more
For now, it’s unclear if Trump will be able to deliver on his promise to increase prosperity by bringing more manufacturing back to the US. Rodin was a hub of industry 100 years ago, and state leaders have struggled for decades to bolster the state’s economy. So is Trump on the right track by trying to wind back globalization or is his approach a recipe for chaos and uncertainty? Does voter discontent with the status quo offer an opening for Rhode Island Republicans, and is Trump’s overall approach good or bad for the state. This week on Political Roundtable, Ian Donnis goes in depth with the Republican leader in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, Mike Chippendale.
Posted inLocal, Politics
Opponents, supporters debate R.I. ban on ‘assault-style’ firearms
A fierce debate over whether new sales of “military-style” firearms should be banned in Rhode Island took center stage during a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Supporters including bill sponsor state Rep. Jason Knight (D-Barrington) argued that so-called “assault weapons” guns are too lethal and increase the risk of a mass shooting. […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for March 14, 2025
What better way to celebrate Sleep Awareness Week than with a nap? You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** 1. STORY OF THE WEEK: “Don’t tax you, don’t tax me, […]
Posted inHousing, Local, Politics
Shekarchi says Rhode Island is making some progress on housing
If only he could turn his gavel into a magic wand, House Speaker Joe Shekarchi said he could make remarkably fast-paced progress in tackling Rhode Island’s housing crisis. Instead, without the ability to defy the iron laws of the marketplace, Shekarchi found himself unveiling Thursday another package of bills meant to narrow the disparity between […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
A divided Rhode Island Senate re-elects Ruggerio as president
Dominick Ruggerio won re-election as president of the Rhode Island Senate Tuesday, as the General Assembly met for the first time in 2025, although almost a third of senators did not support Ruggerio amid ongoing questions about his health. Ruggerio, 76, won another two-year term in one of the two top leadership positions on a […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
Orientation offers a glimpse of Statehouse culture for new lawmakers
Focus, go slow, go small to start off, learn the rules. That was the advice offered by state Rep. Tina Spears (D-Charlestown) — who joined the Rhode Island House of Representatives as a freshman in 2023 — as she helped orient a group of recently elected state reps. Spears recounted how she thought she would […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Nov. 8, 2024
With the 2024 election in the books, we’re on the fast-track to the holidays … and the quiet phase of a statewide election looming in 2026. Welcome back to my weekly column. You can follow me through the week on threads and what we used to call the twitters. Here we go. *** Want to […]
