Tuesday, April 23, 2013
A Senate vote may take place as early as Wednesday.
Rhode Island took one step closer to the legalization of same-sex marriage on Tuesday following Judiciary Committee passage of a bill that would allow gay couples to marry in the state. With little debate, the 10-member Senate committee, which includes Sen. Lou Raptakis of Coventry, voted 7-4 to pass the amended Senate Bill 38 (S38), sponsored by Sen. Donna Nesselbush (D-Pawtucket). The bill defines marriage as "the legally recognized union" of two people, regardless of gender. The seven Committee members who voted in favor of the bill include Sens. Stephen Archambault, William Conley, Dawson Hodgson, Paul Jabour, Erin Lynch, Nesselbush and Raptakis. Committee Chairman Mike McCaffrey, Sens. Frank Lombardi and Harold Metts, and Senate …
During a rally on Monday evening, more than 70 community members gathered in Coventry to urge Sen. Raptakis to vote in favor of marriage equality legislation.
On Monday evening, more than 70 members of the Coventry community gathered in the park at the Sandy Bottom Road/Tiogue Avenue intersection to show their support for marriage equality. With the Senate Judiciary Committee due to vote on a bill today, the crowd gathered last night to call on Senator Lou Raptakis (D-Coventry, East Greenwich, West Warwick) to "support all loving and committed couples' right to marry the person they love," according to Kyle Megrath, Field Organizer for Rhode Islanders United for Marriage (RIUM). Senate Bill 38, sponsored by Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush (D-Pawtucket), would define marriage as "the legally recognized union" of two people, regardless of gender. According to Ray Sullivan, executive director of RIUM, …
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Raptakis' bill requires 50% of a sentence to be served prior to parole eligibility.
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Wednesday, March 13
STATE HOUSE – The Rhode Island Senate approved on Tuesday, legislation that will require individuals convicted of first- or second-degree murder to serve as least 50 percent of a sentence prior to being eligible for parole. Sponsored by Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, East Greenwich, West Greenwich), the legislation, 2013-S 0361, will apply the 50 percent sentence requirement to individuals convicted of first- or second-degree murder who have not been sentenced to life in prison. “Individuals who commit first- and second-degree murder should be expected to serve at least a majority of their sentences and really, I think, they should be serving their full sentences for such a heinous crime,” said Senator Raptakis. “At the…
Friday, February 15, 2013
The bill states that if a corporation’s annual gross receipts amount to less than the $500 minimum tax, any difference up to $500 is to be refunded to the corporation by the state.
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Friday, February 15
"Taxes are a big concern of many small businesses," said Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis (D-Dist. 33,Coventry, East Greenwich, West Greenwich). “We talk about helping small businesses succeed and grow in Rhode Island, but we leave all sorts of impediments in the way,” Senator Raptakis continued. “For many small businesses, the margin between success and tough times is not that large. Every extra tax puts that much more strain on businesses owners.” "The corporations tax that is imposed on Rhode Island businesses is one more example of the state taking in tax revenue without realizing the financial damage it may be causing to small businesses. It is imposed because the law says it can be imposed, without any thought given to the impact that tax…
Friday, February 8, 2013
If passed by the House and enacted into law, the bill will absolve bars and restaurants from the reporting requirement.
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Friday, February 8
On Tuesday, Feb. 5, the Senate approved legislation to amend a new reporting requirement on alcohol sales in the state, limiting the requirement to only Class A liquors licensees (retailers). The legislation, 2013-S 0025A, was introduced by Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, East Greenwich,West Greenwich) and now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. The reporting requirement was included as part of the State Budget for the current fiscal year that was signed into law last June. Senator Raptakis, in introducing legislation to repeal the requirement, called it “burdensome to businesses” and said restaurant and bar owners received notification from the Division of Taxation early in January that they had …
James Crowley
3:26 am on Thursday, April 25, 2013
Taxer, I'm not sure I understand what you're afraid of. What does gay marriage have to do with your children's education? more ›