Woonsocket Radio News Room

Senate rules proposal calls for online posting of committee testimony

 

STATE HOUSE – Senate Committee on Rules, Government Ethics & Oversight Chairman Mark McKenney will introduce a resolution outlining the proposed Senate rules for the 2025-26 legislative session.

 

One provision of the new proposed rules would require the online posting of written testimony received by Senate committees, similar to the process for House of Representatives and joint legislative committees.

 

“As leaders, it is essential we make the legislative process as open and transparent as possible. Rhode Islanders deserve easy access to public information, including written testimony on legislation, and I am grateful the Senate is poised to take this important step forward. It will benefit the public and our chamber as an institution,” said Chairman McKenney (D-Dist. 30, Warwick).

 

The part-time nature of the Senate committee clerks has prevented this practice in prior years. However, President of the Senate Dominick J. Ruggerio notes that he believes the increased transparency this change would provide for the public warrants the investment it will require.

 

“Our Senate leadership team is proud to support Chairman McKenney’s rules resolution and the proposal to post committee testimony online. Responsibly balancing our available resources with the many demands on staff is always a challenge, but it is time to take this important step forward. Improving access to public testimony will strengthen the committee process, improve public transparency, and foster trust in government, all of which is essential to the work we do at the State House,” said President Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence).

 

The rules resolution will be heard before the Rules, Government Ethics & Oversight Committee on Monday, March 3, at 4 p.m.

 

The hearing will be live streamed at capitoltvri.cablecast.tv, after which it will be available to view on demand.

 

President Trump may start reciprocal tariffs in the coming days. Speaking from the Oval office, Trump said it's outrageous Canada slaps a 250-percent tariff on American dairy farmers. He added that a Canadian tariff in response to that and others against Mexico could start as soon as Monday.        Brad Sigmon has been executed by firing squad at a South Carolina prison. In the reading of his final statement, Sigmon said he wanted his last words to be ones of love and a calling to his fellow Christians to end the death penalty. Sigmon was killed shortly after six p.m. Eastern by three volunteer shooters. It was the first execution by firing squad in the U.S. in nearly 15 years.        New Mexico authorities say actor Gene Hackman and his wife died from natural causes. On Friday the state's medical examiner revealed Hackman suffered from hypertension and advanced Alzheimer's disease. His wife, 65-year-old Betsy Arakawa, died from a respiratory illness called Hantavirus [[haunt-uh-virus ]] Pulmonary Syndrome.        The Justice Department is reportedly launching a probe into soaring egg prices. The Wall Street Journal reports the DOJ is looking into whether or not large egg producers have conspired to hold back supply or raise prices. Egg prices have doubled since last year and some stores have had trouble keeping eggs in stock.        The measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico has now surpassed 200 cases, marking the largest outbreak in Texas in 30 years. The outbreak has led to 23 hospitalizations, mostly involving unvaccinated children, and resulted in the death of a six-year-old child in Texas. An adult in New Mexico died and tested positive for measles post mortem, although it's unclear if that was the cause of death.        The finalists have now been chosen ahead of this year's 2025 World Video Game Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The field of nominees includes classics like Frogger, Goldeneye 007 and Tamagotchi as well as newer games such as Angry Birds and Call of Duty Four: Modern Warfare. Each game is judged on criteria like having an extended influence on the video game industry or popular culture in general.       

Old News Archives