The Big Issues Facing the RI State House in 2019

Abortion Rights

With a new Supreme Court led by the appointees of President Donald Trump, there is a growing belief that the highest Court could reverse Roe v. Wade. Activists across the country are taking the issue of women’s reproductive rights to the State Houses.

In Rhode Island, the Womxn Project (TWP) is pushing the issue at the start of the 2019 legislative session and the need to move a bill that would affirm the right to abortion in Rhode Island and came out of the gates swinging and blasted both Speaker of the House Nick Mattiello and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio.

“We are concerned that the leadership is out of touch with the needs and the views of Rhode Islanders. Speaker Nicholas Mattiello said he does not believe Roe is at risk in spite of the fact that we have seen literally thousands of restrictions introduced around the country in recent years with the express purpose of pushing care out of reach and we have two laws on the books in Rhode Island right now that create at times insurmountable obstacles based on age, income and insurance type," said TWP

In an interview with GoLocal in September, Mattiello acknowledged that this would be a major issue for the legislature in 2019.

"Senate President Dominick Ruggiero stated he believes we should wait for the courts on this issue, but what that could mean is waiting until the right is taken away and women’s rights are denied before we take action. That is unacceptable. More than 70% of Rhode Islanders support passing legislation to affirm the right to abortion this year and we are working hard to make that happen,” said TWP. 
 

Budget, Budget, Budget

With nearly a $50 million deficit this fiscal year and a growing $150 million deficit next year coupled with an unpredictable economy in 2019, all eyes are on House Finance Committee Chairman Marvin Abney. In December, Abney appeared on GoLocal LIVE and raised concerns about the budget and said that setting priorities will be critical during a period in which cuts will need to be made.

He raised concerns about new programs or expanding programs (see next slide).

House Majority Leader Joe Shekarchi told GoLocal on Wednesday that the budget has a number of critical issues including making changes to adapt to the new federal tax reform law passed under President Donald Trump.

Look for a conservative approach to budgeting in 2019 with the fights focused on preserving programs rather than expanding.

RI Promise

Governor Gina Raimondo in her inaugural address made another push to expand the RI Promise -- free college education program, "We won't stop until higher education is affordable and accessible to all Rhode Islanders. If you are willing to work hard, a college education should be within reach: It should be within reach for a teenager from Central Falls, a single mom from Warwick who wants to return to school, and anyone else in our state. Working together, we've already set our state on a strong path. But now it's time to make the dream a reality for every Rhode Islander. I cannot think of any priority more urgent to ensuring our economic resiliency in the years ahead."

But, Rhode Island House of Representatives Finance Chair Marvin Abney has been raising questions about the initial results from Governor Gina Raimondo’s “Rhode Island Promise” free college tuition program, heading into the 2019 General Assembly session -- after Raimondo pledged to expand the program during her campaign. 

Abney made his comments during a wide-ranging interview with GoLocalProv.com News Editor Kate Nagle on GoLocal LIVE on Thursday, after the recent House Finance meeting which revealed that Rhode Island is facing a $48 million shortfall for Fiscal Year 2019 — and a projected $112 million shortfall for Fiscal Year 2020. 

"Just to give [the Promise program] a broad brushstroke, I don't think that really tells a story of what's happening," said Abney, after documents unveiled by GoLocal show that claims by the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) and Raimondo relating to the success of the free-tuition RI Promise program are not supported by school documents.

Can't We All Get Along

The past two years in the State House have been mired with public, and sometimes personal, battles between Governor Gina Raimondo, Speaker Nick Mattiello and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio. But, this year the battles are shifting.

The Senate Leadership of Ruggerio, Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey and Whip Maryellen Goodwin may not be in lockstep. And, while Mattiello controls the House, he will have to deal with a group of 20 progressive-leaning members looking to push a very different agenda. 

Guns

Another hot-button issue sure to spark a slew of protests and crowded hearings will be the debate over Rhode Island's gun laws. Governor Gina Raimondo made a big part of her inaugural agenda about expand gun control laws and it may set her up well for her national agenda. 

"And we won't stop until we have common sense gun laws. It is not enough to send our thoughts and prayers each time another act of gun violence takes away a life full of promise. Since I've been Governor, I have lowered the flags at the State House 13 times in four years for 223 lives lost in mass shootings. It is time to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Our children's future and their lives depend on it."

With both legislative leaders with top scores from the NRA, it is unlikely to say any major legislation pass.

Expansion of Sports Betting

The first week's numbers are in and they are dismal. The long-delayed and much-bungled launch of the expansion of gambling may not be the windfall that the Raimondo Administration promised.

It was budgeted to generate $23.5 million which has since been downgraded to $11.5 million and early indications are that number may be hard to reach.

The pressure will be on to expand the program to online betting.

Marijuana

"Cha-ching" is the number you hear from the cash registers in Massachusetts from marijuana sales. The numbers (see the attached table) from the Commonwealth with initially two retail outlets in operation, and then a third location, show a dramatic increase in sales. 

Over the next few months, the number of marijuana retailers will grow to more than ten. Will the revenue growth rate continue? 

"I think at this point, there are still folks who disagree with legalization, and we can debate a lot of different aspects of it, but I think everyone is able to make an informed decision about whether or not they agree with it," the Marijuana Policy Project's Jared Moffat told GoLocal.

"I think that's going to be one our biggest arguments during the upcoming Rhode Island General Assembly session...we've waited long enough. There's really no excuse to delay a vote," said Moffat.