Legislative Scorecard 2019–20
n 2019, the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns began tracking key votes in the General Assembly on legislation affecting cities and towns. Rhode Island has a long and Iproud tradition of local governance, enshrined in the Home Rule Article of the state Constitution (Article XIII). Local government is the most responsive and accountable to residents and businesses since mayors, managers, WE SUPPORT LEGISLATION that councils and local boards and commissions promotes municipal decision-making, constantly hear from people on issues that local innovation and sufficient state matter to them and must make decisions in aid to schools and municipalities. the best interests of their communities. The General Assembly and Governor should uphold and protect local governments’ right to self- WE OPPOSE LEGISLATION that governance. preempts local decision-making, as well as any unfunded mandates on The League and its municipal members have cities and towns, particularly those unifying principles when reviewing legislation. affecting public employees. We support legislation that promotes municipal decision-making, local innovation and sufficient state aid to schools and municipalities. We consistently oppose legislation that preempts local decision-making, as well as any unfunded mandates on cities and towns, particularly those affecting public employees. With personnel costs representing as much 75% of municipal budgets in some communities, state mandates on municipal staffing, benefits or contractual terms interfere with local officials’ ability to balance their budgets in a manner that respects both employees and taxpayers. Further, cities and towns are funded primarily by property taxes, and Rhode Island had the sixth highest property tax burden in the nation. The General Assembly should be working to reduce that burden, not increasing it through costly state mandates. | 1 |
Rhode Island STATE SENATE
LEAGUE POSITION N N N Y Y N SCORE
Dennis Algiere N Y N Y Y (NV) 80% District 38
Stephen Archambault N Y Y Y Y Y 50% District 22
Samuel Bell Y Y N Y Y Y 50% District 5
Sandra Cano Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 8
Frank Ciccone , III Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 7
William Conley , Jr. (NV) Y Y Y Y Y 40% District 18
Cynthia Coyne Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 32
Elizabeth Crowley Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 16
Jessica de la Cruz N N N Y Y N 100% District 23 | 2 |
Rhode Island STATE SENATE
LEAGUE POSITION N N N Y Y N SCORE
Louis DiPalma Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 12
Dawn Euer Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 13
Walter Felag , Jr. Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 10
Hanna Gallo Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 27
Gayle Goldin Y Y N Y Y Y 50% District 3
Maryellen Goodwin Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 1
Valarie Lawson Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 14
Frank Lombardi Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 26
Frank Lombardo , III N Y Y Y Y Y 50% District 25 | 3 |
Rhode Island STATE SENATE
LEAGUE POSITION N N N Y Y N SCORE
Erin Lynch Prata Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 31
Michael McCaffrey Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 29
Mark McKenney Y N Y Y Y Y 50% District 30
Harold Metts Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 6
Joshua Miller Y Y (NV) Y Y Y 40% District 28
Elaine Morgan N N N Y Y N 100% District 34
Melissa Murray Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 24
Donna Nesselbush N N Y Y Y Y 67% District 15
Thomas Paolino N Y N Y Y Y 67% District 17 | 4 |
Rhode Island STATE SENATE
LEAGUE POSITION N N N Y Y N SCORE
Ryan Pearson Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 19
Roger Picard (NV) Y (NV) Y Y Y 50% District 20
Ana Quezada Y Y N Y Y Y 50% District 2
Leonidas Raptakis Y N Y Y Y N 67% District 33
Gordon Rogers N N N Y Y N 100% District 21
Dominick Ruggerio Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 4
Adam Satchell Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 9
James Seveney Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 11
James Sheehan Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 36 | 5 |
Rhode Island STATE SENATE
LEAGUE POSITION N N N Y Y N SCORE
V. Susan Sosnowski Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 37
Bridget Valverde Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 35 | 6 |
Rhode Island State REPRESENTATIVES
LEAGUE POSITION N N N Y Y N SCORE
Marvin Abney Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 73
Mia Ackerman Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 45
Edith Ajello Y Y N Y Y Y 50% District 1
Joseph Almeida Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 12
Karen Alzate Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 60
Gregg Amore Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 65
Samuel Azzinaro Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 37
Jean Phillippe Barros Y Y (NV) Y Y Y 40% District 59
David Bennett Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 20 | 7 |
Rhode Island State REPRESENTATIVES
LEAGUE POSITION N N N Y Y N SCORE
Christopher Blazejewski Y Y N Y Y Y 50.0% District 2
Justine Caldwell Y Y Y Y Y Y 33.3% District 30
Dennis Canario Y Y Y Y Y (NV) 40.0% District 71
Lauren Carson Y N Y Y Y Y 50.0% District 75
Stephen Casey Y Y Y Y Y Y 33.3% District 50
Julie Casimiro Y Y Y Y Y Y 33.3% District 31
Liana Cassar Y Y N Y Y N 66.7% District 66
Michael Chippendale N N N Y Y N 100.0% District 40
Terri Cortvriend Y Y N Y Y Y 50.0% District 72 | 8 |
Rhode Island State REPRESENTATIVES
LEAGUE POSITION N N N Y Y N SCORE
Arthur Corvese Y Y Y Y Y Y 33.3% District 55
Gregory Costantino Y Y Y Y Y (NV) 40.0% District 44
Robert Craven , Sr. Y Y Y Y Y Y 33.3% District 32
Grace Diaz Y Y Y Y Y Y 33.3% District 11
Susan Donovan Y Y Y Y Y Y 33.3% District 69
John Edwards Y Y Y Y Y Y 33.3% District 70
Deborah Fellela Y Y Y Y Y Y 33.3% District 43
Blake Filippi N N N Y Y N 100.0% District 36
Kathleen Fogarty Y Y Y Y Y Y 33.3% District 35 | 9 |
Rhode Island State REPRESENTATIVES
LEAGUE POSITION N N N Y Y N SCORE
Joshua Giraldo — — — — Y Y 50% District 56
Arthur Handy Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 18
Bernard Hawkins Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 53
Raymond Hull Y Y N Y Y Y 50% District 6
James Jackson Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 26
Robert Jacquard Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 17
Raymond Johnston , Jr. Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 61
Katherine Kazarian Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 63
Brian Patrick Kennedy Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 38 | 10 |
Rhode Island State REPRESENTATIVES
LEAGUE POSITION N N N Y Y N SCORE
Rebecca Kislak Y Y N Y Y Y 50% District 4
Jason Knight Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 67
Charlene Lima Y Y Y Y Y (NV) 40% District 14
John Lombardi Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 8
John Lyle , Jr. Y Y N Y Y Y 50% District 46
Shelby Maldonado Y Y Y Y — — 25% District 56
Alex Marszalkowski Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 52
Nicholas Mattiello Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 15
Carol Hagan McEntee Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 33 | 11 |
Rhode Island State REPRESENTATIVES
LEAGUE POSITION N N N Y Y N SCORE
Daniel McKiernan (NV) Y Y Y Y Y 40% District 7
James McLaughlin Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 57
Joseph McNamara Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 19
Mario Mendez Y Y (NV) Y Y (NV) 50% District 13
Mary Messier Y Y Y Y Y (NV) 40% District 62
Christopher Millea Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 16
Michael Morin Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 49
George Nardone N N N Y Y N 100% District 28
Brian Newberry N N N Y Y (NV) 100% District 48 | 12 |
Rhode Island State REPRESENTATIVES
LEAGUE POSITION N N N Y Y N SCORE
Thomas Noret Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 25
William O’Brien Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 54
Robert Phillips N Y Y Y Y Y 50% District 51
David Place N N N Y Y N 100% District 47
Justin Price N N N Y Y Y 83% District 39
Robert Quattrocchi N N N Y Y N 100% District 41
Marcia Ranglin-Vassell Y Y N Y Y Y 50% District 5
Sherry Roberts N N N Y Y N 100% District 29
Deborah Ruggiero Y Y N Y Y Y 50% District 74 | 13 |
Rhode Island State REPRESENTATIVES
LEAGUE POSITION N N N Y Y N SCORE
Joe Serodio Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 64
Patricia Serpa Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 27
Evan Shanley Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 24
K. Joseph Shekarchi Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 23
Scott Slater Y Y (NV) Y Y Y 40% District 10
Joseph Solomon , Jr. Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 22
June Speakman Y Y N Y Y Y 50% District 68
Teresa Tanzi Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 34
Carlos Tobon Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 58 | 14 |
Rhode Island State REPRESENTATIVES
LEAGUE POSITION N N N Y Y N SCORE
Stephen Ucci Y Y Y Y (NV) Y 20% District 42
Camille Vella-Wilkinson Y Y Y Y Y Y 33% District 21
Moira Walsh Y Y N Y Y (NV) 60% District 3
Anastasia Williams Y Y (NV) Y Y Y 40% District 9 | 15 |
Priority bills for 2019 and 2020
1) Lifetime Contracts: The League OPPOSED legislation that would automatically and indefinitely continue the terms of a collective bargaining agreement. The expiration date of collective bargaining agreements motivates the parties to come together and resolve their issues prior to the close of the contract. During the Great Recession in New York State, which has lifetime contracts, labor unions deciding to stall contract negotiations instead of making concessions, leading municipalities to cut services and raise taxes. The League did support temporary contract continuation when agreed to by both sides, but strongly opposed automatic contract extensions. With cities and towns now facing serious budget challenges from the COVID-19 economic downturn, passage of the Lifetime Contracts bill will make it harder for local officials to gain concessions from employees, ultimately harming Rhode Island taxpayers. 2) Firefighter Overtime:The League OPPOSED a pair of bills that would give Rhode Island one of the most generous firefighter overtime requirements in the nation— far more generous than Federal standards. This state mandate limits local flexibility in scheduling and further increases the costs of fire protection services in Rhode Island – already one of the highest in the country according to a December 2018 report by the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council. With the firefighter overtime bills now law, we fully expect those taxpayer costs to climb. 3) Special Economic Development Districts: The League OPPOSED legislative language that would over- ride municipal control of land use decisions, allowing the state to substitute its judgment for local officials and residents in any community with state land. Initially targeted at the I-195 land in Providence, the authority could later be used at any large state properties — the Zambarano campus in Burrillville, the Pastore Complex in Cranston, the Ladd Center Complex in Exeter, and numerous others — as well as DEM-owned lands and management areas. The state requires cities and towns to establish comprehensive plans to guide development and should not be able to circumvent local land use decisions by creating special districts led by unelected appointees. 4) Municipal Representative on Ambulance Services Advisory Board: The League SUPPORTED legislation adding a municipal appointee to the Ambulance Services Advisory Board. In 2018, the Board recommended changes to Emergency Medical Services regulations that would have limited local control over EMS operations and cost cities and towns hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Including a municipal representative on the board will ensure that the needs are local governments are heard during key decisions. 5) Financial Town Meeting Emergency Powers: The League SUPPORTED legislation granting local governments authority to change the timing and operations of their Financial Town Meetings (FTM) or Financial Referenda during a declared emergency. Because COVID-19 prohibited communities from holding in-person meetings, the League worked with affected communities to develop legislation allowing for alternate dates and locations of financial town meetings/referenda, as well as additional tools to assist local officials with their budget processes. Enactment of this legislation into law allowed local governments to make important financial decisions in a manner that kept the public engaged but safe. 6) Cancer Presumption for Firefighters: The League OPPOSED legislation creating one of the most generous firefighter cancer presumption laws for firefighters in the country. With practically no ability to deny a current or retired firefighter based on smoking, lifestyle or other factors, the legislation will compel cities and towns to pay lifetime disability pensions for non-work-related cancers. The League does not oppose the concept a cancer presumption law and recommended best practices from other states to protect both firefighters and taxpayers, but those suggestions were ignored, leading to a lopsided law that will further burden pension systems. | 16 |
KEY LEGISLATION AND VOTES FOR SCORECARD Note: The Rhode Island General Assembly has a tradition of “companion legislation,” where identical House and Senate bills pass both chambers. Under this process, General Assembly members may vote twice on a bill — for example, a House member may vote on a House bill and the Senate companion bill. When preparing the scorecard, we checked both votes for each individual member. If a House or Senate member was absent for one vote, we also tracked his/her vote on the companion bill to ensure that people were accurately recorded on the topic. For that reason, the House and Senate scorecard numbers may differ from the individual vote tallies.
STATE SENATE
1) Lifetime Contracts Bill (S0512 SUB A) Floor (5/1/19) – Passed 28-8 http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/SVotes/votereport.asp?id=12011 House Companion (H5437 SUB A, 5/9/19) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/SVotes/votereport.asp?id=12039
2) Firefighter Overtime (S 747, S 748) Floor (5/1/19) – Passed 32-6 http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/SVotes/votereport.asp?id=12013 (S 747) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/SVotes/votereport.asp?id=12014 (S 748) House Companion (H 5662, H 5663, 5/9/19) – Passed 28-6, 27-6 http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/SVotes/votereport.asp?id=12040 (H 5662) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/SVotes/votereport.asp?id=12041 (H 5663)
3) Special Economic Development Districts (S 803 SUB Aaa) Floor (6/11/19) – Passed 28-8 http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/SVotes/votereport.asp?id=12168 No House Companion – Incorporated into FY 2020 Budget, Article 12, Sections 8-9
4) Municipal Representative on Ambulance Services Advisory Board (S 951 SUB Aaa) Floor (6/25/19) – Passed 38-0 http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/SVotes/votereport.asp?id=12308 House Companion (H 6169 SUB A, 6/28/19) – Passed on Consent Calendar
5) Financial Town Meeting Emergency Powers (S 2864) Floor (6/18/20) – Passed 38-0 (Bundled with six other bills) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/SVotes/votereport.asp?id=12647 House Companion (H 8015) – Passed in concurrence
6) Cancer Presumption for Firefighters (S 2302 SUB A) Floor (7/13/20) – Passed 32-4 http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/SVotes/votereport.asp?id=12687 House Companion (H 7449 SUB A, 7/16/20) — Passed 32-4 http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/SVotes/votereport.asp?id=12712 | 17 |
STATE REPRESENTATIVES
1) Lifetime Contracts Bill (H 5437 SUB A) Floor (4/23/19) – Passed 60-8 http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/HVotes/votereport.asp?id=16284 Senate Companion (S 512 SUB A, 5/9/19) – Passed 59-9 http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/HVotes/votereport.asp?id=16336
2) Firefighter Overtime (H 5662, H 5663) Floor (4/9/19) – Passed 62-9 http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/HVotes/votereport.asp?id=16269 (H 5662) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/HVotes/votereport.asp?id=16270 (H 5663) Senate Companion (S 747, S 748) – Passed 60-9 http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/HVotes/votereport.asp?id=16337 (S 747) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/HVotes/votereport.asp?id=16338 (S 748)
3) Special Economic Development Districts (H 5151, Article 12, Sections 8 & 9) Floor (6/21/19) – Passed 52-19 http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/HVotes/votereport.asp?id=16621 No vote on Senate companion (S 803 SUB Aaa)
4) Municipal Representative on Ambulance Services Advisory Board (H 6169 SUB Aaa) Floor (6/24/19) – Passed 74-0 http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/HVotes/votereport.asp?id=16665 Senate Companion (S 951 SUB Aaa, 6/28/19) – Passed 63-0 on Consent Calendar http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/HVotes/votereport.asp?id=16890
5) Financial Town Meeting Emergency Powers (H 8015) Floor (6/17/20) – Passed 72-0 http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/HVotes/votereport.asp?id=17063 Senate Companion (S 2864, 6/18/20) – Passed 71-0 on Consent Calendar http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/HVotes/votereport.asp?id=17114
6) Cancer Presumption for Firefighters (H 7449 SUB A) Floor (7/16/20) – Passed 61-7 http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/HVotes/votereport.asp?id=17186 Senate Companion (S 2302 SUB A, 7/16/20) – Passed in concurrence, bundled