Common Cause Rhode Island - Page 3 of 5 - Providence Business News

More candidates take virtual route

Government 04/01/2022

From YouTube announcements to Twitter fundraising, Rhode Island political candidates are embracing virtual campaigning with gusto as the 2022 election season gains momentum. That doesn’t...

Should the state and local communities continue providing remote access to...

Government 03/18/2022

An executive order issued by Gov. Daniel J. McKee allowing public government meetings to be held virtually expires at the end of the month. Government...

MORE ACCESS: John Marion, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, says the General Assembly needs to pass legislation preserving remote access to public meetings after the pandemic ends. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Remote access to public meetings a pandemic legacy to celebrate

Coronavirus 03/18/2022

There are few positive things the pandemic will be remembered for, but the ability of government to be able to reach out to more...

A McKee/Matos ticket would require a constitutional amendment

Elections 02/23/2022

PROVIDENCE – Gov. Daniel J. McKee kicked off his 2022 election campaign on Tuesday when he toured Igus Inc., an East Providence-based manufacturer of...

Redistricting approved by the General Assembly with incumbent protections

Elections 02/16/2022

PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island General Assembly approved the newly-drawn redistricting maps on Tuesday for the House, Senate, and congressional district borders with the...

R.I. redistricting commission keeps 113 incumbent legislators in their existing districts

Elections 01/13/2022

PRROVIDENCE - Rhode Island's Special Commission on Reapportionment has approved its redistricting maps, keeping all 113 incumbent legislators in their existing districts. The state's political...

JOHN MARION, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, says the state's legislative redistricting process is flawed and open to abuse and needs to be changed. Pictured is the R.I. Statehouse. / PBN FILE PHOTO/NICOLE DOTZENROD

Does public need more input in R.I.’s redistricting process?

Elections 12/17/2021

The process that shifts the political landscape every 10 years with the redrawing of legislative district boundaries should include inviting more public input through...

VIRTUAL CONNECTION: Gov. Daniel J. McKee holds a Facebook Live event on June 3 to discuss health care in Rhode Island. Panelists included, clockwise, Womazetta Jones, secretary of R.I. Executive Office of Health and Human Services; Stefan Pryor, commerce secretary; Patrick Tigue, the state health insurance commissioner; Dr. Megan Ranney, of Brown University; and Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, R.I. Department of Health director. It’s unclear what form these types of gatherings will take after the pandemic has passed.

Public officials ponder future of online meetings

Coronavirus 06/11/2021

Rhode Island public meetings have been virtual for more than a year. In that time, the audience for the meetings of public bodies such...

JACKS OF ALL TRADES: Because Rhode Island’s General Assembly serves part time, the 75 representatives and 38 senators make their living in a variety of other ways, including as lawyers, teachers, bankers, public employees and health care workers. Fifteen are retirees. The “other” category includes two stay-at-home parents, two farmers, a carpenter, a landscaper, a law student and a Ph.D. student. Four citizen legislators are featured on Pages 14 and 15. / SOURCE: R.I. GENERAL ASSEMBLY OFFICIALS / ILLUSTRATION: PBN/ANNE EWING

DOUBLE DUTY: Should R.I.’s citizen legislature become a full-time body?

Cover Story 05/28/2021

Every year, Rhode Island’s 113-member citizen legislature has plenty to pack into a six-month session. This year has been no different. Major issues debated include...