17 Winners, 52 Losers in RI House of Reps

How’s that for a positive reframe? Arthur Handy (D-Cranston) is a winner. Thomas Slater (D-Providence) is a winner. Tomorrow, when the full list of “Yeas” and “Nays” on this vote is available, we will publish a full list of the winners.

My definition of a winner is someone who sticks up for what they believe in and who values a society where everyone is asked to contribute to the common good in accordance with their means. Those who voted to oppose the new tax break for the wealthy in the Rhode Island House of Representatives yesterday are the winners. You can track the votes of your State Representative by going to this page. Yesterday’s vote tally will be published tomorrow, according to the publicist’s office of the General Assembly.

Here is a link to the Projo article announcing the passage of this bill in the House.

This proposal is now headed for the State Senate. Now is the time to email your State Senator and let them know that this tax break is antithetical with the values of the Democratic party and is not going to do anything other than contribute to Rhode Island’s massive deficit and give a nice bonus to a few people who don’t need it.

Find Your Elected Officials Here

List of Rhode Island Senate Email Addresses

Join the exclusive winner’s circle in Rhode Island by sending an email to your State Senator telling them to be vigilant stewards for our budget, not shills for a small and influential special interest.

UPDATE: Here’s the roll call of Yeas and Nays:

YEAS – 52: The Honorable Speaker Murphy and Representatives Amaral, Anguilla, Caprio, Carter, Church, Coderre, Corvese, Costantino, Davey, Dennigan, Ehrhardt, Fox, Gallison, Gemma, Ginaitt, Gorham, Jackson, Jacquard, Kennedy, Kilmartin, Lally, Landroche, Lewiss, Lima, Long, Loughlin, Malik, McHugh, McManus, McNamara, Melo, Moffitt, Moura, Mumford, Naughton, O’Neill, Palumbo, Petrarca, Picard, Rose, Savage, Schadone, Scott, Shanley, Slater, Story, Sullivan, Trillo, Watson, Williamson, Winfield.

NAYS – 17: Representatives Ajello, Almeida, Brien, DeSimone, Diaz, Faria, Flaherty, Giannini, Handy, Laroche, McCauley, Menard, Moran, Pacheco, Smith, Ucci, Wasylyk.

4 thoughts on “17 Winners, 52 Losers in RI House of Reps”

  2. Kiersten – Reps. Brien, DeSimone, Flaherty, Giannini, Laroche, Menard, Smith, Ucci & Wasylyk generally vote against the Speaker because they are part of the dissidents so it is unclear who in this group voted against this on principle and who voted out of disdain for Murphy.

  3. RiPop, Okay, so you mean to tell me these people vote primarily because they are part of a dissident movement and not because they are seriously considering the merits of the legislation before them? I’m not sure these folks would agree with this characterization of their voting behavior, but if it’s true, could this get any MORE dysfunctional?

    “If government is not good perhaps it is because the “good” refuse to participate and so we get the government that we deserve.â€?-Mark Twain

    Sometimes I understand perfectly why the “good” prefer to spend their free time remodeling their houses and planning their next vacation rather than participating in social activism. The sad irony is, we may be headed for a country where fewer and fewer people have the resources for enjoying free time. But for now, apparently, the majority is placated and willing to let those in power wreak havoc.

    Thanks for your comment, Ripop, and for being out in front on this issue with your blog. Next time I will be more vigilant and vocal earlier on issues like this one that affect so many people and are so ill-conceived.

  4. The answer is yes to your first question – which is common-place in American political system.

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