News Clips

Gina Raimondo will be two weeks into her new term on Tuesday, but her State of the State address that night will mark the real kickoff of her second four years in office. The governor will arrive on the House rostrum in so-so shape politically: the latest quarterly Morning Consult poll gives her a middling 43% job approval rating, around where it's always been, but her double-digit re-election win in November replenished her political capital.

The legislative session in Rhode Island is off to a fast start, thanks to a vigorous debate on House rules. There’s a lot more happening, so thanks for stopping by for my weekly column. As usual, your tips and comments are welcome, and you can follow me through the week on the twitters. Here we go.

The rule changes, endorsed 14-3 by the House Rules Committee, would require House leaders to post new legislative language — with some exceptions — for public consumption at least 24 hours before it is voted on by lawmakers.

The Rhode Island House Rules Committee approved Thursday a minimum 24-hour waiting period to review significant changes to legislation in House committees. But critics said the Rules Committee failed to go far enough in making more changes to improve the legislative process.

House Democrats loyal to Speaker Nicholas Mattiello on Thursday approved a revised set of rules to govern the chamber over the next two years, including a provision requiring that amended bills are published at least 24 hours before a vote.