The sudden resignation of Senate President William V. Irons and the controversy surrounding both he and Sen. John Celona, who stepped down as chairman of the Senate Corporation Committee, has gotten the 2004 General Assembly session off to a rousing start.
With the state Ethics Commission and Rhode Island State Police investigating ties between legislators and their corporate clients, the potential is there for this legislative session – in terms of meaningful legislation being passed – to be a real dud.
Rhode Island can’t afford to let that happen.
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The state is facing a growing budget deficit, one that is expected to exceed $200 million in 2005. Meanwhile, business owners – from both large and small companies – are crying out for some kind of relief in terms of health insurance premiums that have been rising by double digits for several years.
We urge Senate and House leaders to remain focused on the issues at hand. The Rhode Island economy is at a critical juncture. Nationally, there are promising signs. Things may actually be turning in the right direction.
Rhode Island desperately needs a productive legislative session. Health care reform and addressing a budget deficit are priorities that cannot be ignored.
Already, there are calls for major changes at the General Assembly. Sen. Joseph Polisena, a Johnston Democrat, is promising to put forth legislation calling for the creation of a full-time Legislature by 2007.
Polisena says that such a move would solve a basic problem facing the Legislature.
“As we have seen in a number of instances, there can be unfortunate results when members of our part-time General Assembly serve two masters – the citizens in their districts and their regular, full-time jobs,” said Polisena.
It is a subject worth debating.
It is not one in which we should rush to judgment. A careful study needs to be done so voters can accurately weigh the costs of a full-time Legislature, complete with offices and full-time staffs, versus the system currently in place.
We would support the creation of a committee – including members from outside of the Legislature – to study the idea and report findings.
In the meantime, we implore legislators to work diligently to adopt measures that will bolster our economy and pave the way for businesses to create new jobs.
