RI House Power Structure: Who's In and Who's Out?
GoLocalProv News Team
RI House Power Structure: Who's In and Who's Out?
The implications of the changeover to the new leadership group are profound as legislators and committees are being realigned, and agendas re-calibrated.
Legislation that was dead may have new life, and correspondingly – “sure things” may now have tough roads. The transition from Friday to today has shifted Rhode Island’s legislature from left to moderate or even conservative.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAs examples, the NRA legislative ranking shifts from a 58 percent score for Fox to a 100 percent ranking for Mattiello. The Judiciary Committee Chair shifts from a score of 0 percent of a 92 percent score under the new chair.
New Assignments
Yesterday, two major committees were reassigned – Judiciary and Finance – two of the most powerful House positions have new leadership.
The biggest surprise was the Speaker Mattiello giving a plum position to one loyal Republican – a move that is unprecedented.
Take a tour of Who is In and Who is Out in the Committee assignments. Two key committees are still unassigned – House Labor and Oversight.
See the new power structure in the slides below
RI House Power Structure: Who's In and Who's Out?
Corporations Committee Chair
Rep. Brian Patrick Kennedy
Democrat
District 38 (Westerly, Hopkinton)
Environment and Natural Resources Committee Chair
Rep. Arthur Handy
Democrat
District 18 (Cranston)
OUT:
Finance Committee Chair
Rep. Helio Melo
Democrat
District 64 (East Providence)
IN:
Finance Committee Chair
Rep. Raymond E. Gallison, Jr
Democrat
District 69 (Bristol, Portsmouth)
Finance: Education Subcommittee Chair
Rep. Joy S. Hearn
Democrat
District 66 (Barrington, East Providence)
Finance: General Government Subcommittee Chair
Rep. Frank G. Ferri
Democrat
District 22 (Warwick)
Finance: Public Safety Subcommittee Chair
Rep. Raymond E. Gallison, Jr
Democrat
District 69 (Bristol, Portsmouth)
Finance: Human Services Subcommittee Chair
Rep. Eileen S. Naughton
Democrat
District 21 (Warwick)
Finance: Environment/Transportation Subcommittee Chair
Rep. Agostinho F. Silva
Democrat
District 56 (Central Falls)
Health, Education and Welfare Committee Chair
Rep. Joseph M. McNamara
Democrat
District 19 (Warwick, Cranston)
OUT:
Judiciary Committee Chair
Rep. Edith H. Ajello
Democrat
District 1 (Providence)
IN:
Judiciary Committee Chair
Rep. Cale P. Keable
Democrat
District 47 (Burrillville, Glocester)
IN:
Judiciary Committee Vice-Chair
Rep. Doreen Costa
Republican
District 31 (Exeter, North Kingstown)
PENDING:
Labor Committee Chair
Rep. Anastasia Williams
Democrat
District 9 (Providence)
Municipal Government Committee Chair
Rep. John J. DeSimone
Democrat
District 5 (Providence)
PENDING:
Oversight Committee Chair
Rep. Michael J. Marcello
Democrat
District 41 (Cranston, Scituate)
Rules Committee Chair
Rep. Arthur J. Corvese
Democrat
District 55 (North Providence)
Small Business Committee Chair
Rep. Patricia A. Serpa
Democrat
District 27 (West Warwick, Warwick, Coventry)
Veterans' Affairs Committee Chair
Rep. Raymond E. Gallison, Jr.
Democrat
District 69 (Bristol, Portsmouth)
Joint Committee: Housing Act Oversight Commission
Rep. Brian Patrick Kennedy (Co-Chair)
Democrat
District 38 (Westerly, Hopkinton)
PENDING:
Joint Committee: Legislative Services
Gordon D. Fox (Chair)
Democrat
District 4 (Providence)
Permanent Joint Committee: Economic Development
Rep. Donna Walsh (Chair)
Democrat
District 36 (Charlestown, New Shoreham, South Kingstown, Westerly)
Permanent Joint Committee: Healthcare Oversight
Rep. Brian Patrick Kennedy (Co-Chair)
Democrat
District 38 (Westerly, Hopkinton)
