Rhode Island
It's past time for RI to prep for Nov. 5 constitutional convention | Opinion
J.H. Snider is the editor of The Rhode Island State Constitutional Convention Clearinghouse. Gary Sasse served as the Rhode Island director of the departments of Administration and Revenue, and executive director of the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council.
Once a decade, next on Nov. 5, the Rhode Island Constitution mandates that its people have the right to call a constitutional convention to propose amendments for popular ratification.
A convention’s contemporary democratic purpose is to allow the people to vote on popular changes to Rhode Island’s fundamental law that the legislature chooses not to initiate and place on the ballot. Fourteen states provide a periodic convention referendum and 18 a constitutional initiative to provide the people with such a legislative bypass mechanism. The framers of Rhode Island’s 1973 Constitution favored the periodic convention referendum over the initiative partly because it incorporates enhanced public deliberation when making constitutional proposals.
More: Do Rhode Islanders trust their government? Here’s what a new URI poll found.
More: What good are rights under RI Constitution if you can’t enforce them? That might change.
Preparatory panel considered a best practice
The Constitution also mandates that the “general assembly, or the governor if the general assembly fails to act, shall provide for a bi-partisan preparatory commission to assemble information on constitutional questions for the electors.” During the 1960s, the last great wave of U.S. state conventions, it was considered best practice to form such a preparatory commission before calling a convention. For example, Maryland’s governor appointed 27 citizens to such a commission before the popular vote on whether to call a convention. The commission suggested constitutional changes that a convention might consider.
In contrast, Rhode Island’s most recent preparatory commission did what was minimally required. It was created in the waning days of the General Assembly’s session with a limited time frame to meet the spirit of the constitutional mandate creating the Preparatory Commission.
Complaints of hindering by Assembly
In 2014, former 1973 convention delegate John Partridge, who helped draft the preparatory commission clause, complained about the legislature’s compromising the commission process:
“First, we expected that the General Assembly would establish the Preparatory Commission well in advance of the vote on whether there should be a convention. The common thought at that time was a year in advance. Secondly, it was thought that it would be comprised, primarily, of non-members of the General Assembly. I can absolutely assure you that it was not expected there would be General Assembly members in a majority on the Preparatory Commission because many constitutional issues directly affect the General Assembly, creating possible conflicts. Thirdly, there would be a written report given to the voters well in advance of the question being on the ballot. And lastly, it was thought the Preparatory Commission would not take positions…. [It] would, instead, determine the principal issues that might be considered and suggest pros and cons on those issues so that the issues could be robustly debated.”
Given the legislature’s current delay in passing commission-enabling legislation, it should give immediate priority to creating a Preparatory Commission as specified in the state constitution. The enabling act creating the Preparatory Commission should not include elected officials as commission members. It should provide for webcasting and ample public notice of the commission’s public hearings. It should also have sufficient resources to engage professionals to support its research and hearings, and report its finding well in advance of the vote to call a convention.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Immediate priority should be given to creating a Preparatory Commission as specified in the state constitution.
Another famous face is joining the cast of “Rubber Hut” filming throughout Rhode Island.
As we previously reported, Grace Van Patten is starring in the feature film debut for director Hannah Gray Organschi about the infamous “condom hut” business from the early 90s.
The short-lived Fotomat kiosk turned drive-thru condom store garnered local notoriety as well as national attention in 1992 and is now the subject of a movie with several A-list stars attached.
READ MORE: Michael Imperioli, Emmy Rossum Join RI ‘Condom Hut’ Film
Scenes were filmed for several days at a custom-made “condom hut” on West Shore Road in Warwick. On Thursday, June 11, Beach Avenue was closed down to shoot a parade scene. Now, film crews have moved to Meshanticut Valley Parkway in Cranston for scenes along a residential street.
Who Was Behind the Original Condom Hut?
The home is believed to represent the residence of Emanuella DelVecchio, the former flight attendant who had the brilliant idea to open a condom kiosk in response to the AIDS epidemic.
Instead of support, however, DelVecchio received the condemnation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence and was plagued with vandalism before shuttering her business within a year.
READ MORE: New Bedford’s Gone But Not Forgotten Closed-Down Bars
Who Has Joined the ‘Condom Hut’ Movie Cast So Far
Photos of parade scenes for the film show Michael Imperioli portraying a priest in the movie and now Deadline has reported that stage actor, Will Harrison, is attached to the project as DelVecchio’s husband. Other actors’ specific roles remain unknown.
Filming is expected to continue in Rhode Island until the end of June with a theatrical release likely in 2027.
See the Stars Who Own Homes in Rhode Island
There are plenty of celebrities who once called Rhode Island home, but how many still do? Here’s the list of stars who own homes across the Ocean State.
Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall
20 Stars Who Hail From Rhode Island
Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the nation, but it has been home to many celebrities. Though some have moved here, filmed here or attended school here, only a handful were actually born here. These are those celebrities.
Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall
All The Famous Faces That Have Been to Taylor Swift’s Rhode Island Home
Here are all the celebrities we know have made an appearance at Holiday House over the years.
Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall
Two Rhode Island residents were charged after the Justice Department announced a $6.5 billion healthcare fraud crackdown.
The department said 455 defendants were charged, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes.
Mareli Arias Batista, 57, of Providence, was charged with false representation of a social security number, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, false statement in application for a passport, use of a false passport and bank fraud in connection with a scheme to obtain benefits using the identity of another person.
Officials said Batista fraudulently obtained approximately $28,236.42 in Rhode Island Medicaid benefits.
Balni Pimental Lara, 59, of Providence, was also charged with false representation of a social security number, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, and health care fraud, in connection with a scheme to obtain benefits using the identity of another person.
According to officials, Lara fraudulently obtained approximately $24,018.86 in Rhode Island Medicaid benefits.
Bhamin Chhatrapati, 40, of Stoughton, Mass., was charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with over $5.1 million fraudulently billed to Medicare, of which over $2.6 million was paid.
Approximately 1,079 medical providers were suspended and billing privileges were revoked for 1,403 providers.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — Former Rhode Island House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi loses an attempt to stop an ethics complaint against his bid for a seat on the state Supreme Court.
The state Ethics Commission voted Tuesday to deny Shekarchi’s motion to dismiss the complaint filed in May.
The Ethics Commission voted June 2 to further investigate the complaint.
The question is whether Shekarchi’s attempt for a lifetime spot on the bench violates Rhode Island’s anti-corruption revolving door law.
The law prevents sitting lawmakers from taking most other state jobs for at least a year after leaving office.
Shekarchi resigned as House Speaker on May 8 to seek nomination to the Supreme Court.
He kept his House seat.
That same day, Roger Williams University law professor Michael Yelnosky filed an ethics complaint.
Shekarchi argues a Supreme Court seat is an exemption from the revolving door law, like other constitutional offices including governor.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION (4)
The Ethics Commission’s prosecutor argues the high court seat is not exempt.
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