Rhode Island
R.I. Senate president returns after seven weeks and bout of pneumonia – The Boston Globe
Ruggerio, 76, a North Providence Democrat, missed long stretches of last year’s legislative session as he battled cancer and shingles. He is still being treated for cancer, he said on Tuesday.
In November, Ruggerio withstood a leadership challenge from former Senate Majority Leader Ryan W. Pearson, a Cumberland Democrat who charged that the Senate was ineffective in his absence.
Ruggerio was admitted to Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, in North Providence, on Feb. 19 with what senators were told was a “touch of pneumonia.” He later moved to Fatima’s rehabilitation facility, and returned home on March 12. He was expected to return to the Senate last Thursday, but a spokesman said he needed another day with his recovery.
With his appearance Tuesday, Ruggerio has attended six the Senate’s 13 sessions this year. He presided over Tuesday’s Senate session, which included unanimous approval of two bills.
During announcements Tuesday, Senator Jake Bissaillon, a Providence Democrat who previously served as his chief of staff, said to Ruggerio, “I’d be remiss not to say it’s good to see you back.”
After Tuesday’s session, Pearson said, “I’m glad to see he is doing well enough to be back.”
When asked by reporters what his priorities are for the remainder of the legislative session, Ruggerio said, “Well, I’m playing catch up.”
But he cited a Senate commission appointed to study whether to create a medical school at the University of Rhode Island. And he mentioned the package of health care bills that the Senate unveiled in February, including legislation to review Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care providers in Rhode Island.
Ruggerio said he has not had a chance to meet with Governor Daniel J. McKee or House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi to discuss legislative priorities. “We’ve spoken over the phone. I haven’t really met with them physically, but I intend to,” he said.
When asked to identify the hardest part of being Senate president during his health problems, Ruggerio said, “Keeping up with things.” He emphasized his “great staff,” and said he is in regular contact with Senate staff, Shekarchi, and McKee. “So I can keep up with what’s going on up here,” he said.
Ruggerio is considered the “dean” of the Senate, the chamber’s longest-serving member, first winning election in 1985. He previously served in the state House of Representatives from 1981 to 1984, and has served as Senate president since March 2017.
When the 2025 legislative session commenced in January, the 38-member Senate reelected Ruggerio as president, with 26 senators voting for him while 12 voted “present,” essentially abstaining from the vote. Surprisingly, Ruggerio was among those who voted “present.” Afterward, he said he could not hear and misunderstood when he voted “present” rather than voting for himself.
When asked on Tuesday if he still considers it a good decision to run again for Senate president, Ruggerio said, “Yes.”
Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at edward.fitzpatrick@globe.com. Follow him @FitzProv.
Rhode Island
Nearly 60 percent of RI residents disapprove of Trump’s performance, tariffs, and Ukraine
Trump announces 25% tariffs on imported cars
President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on imported vehicles and auto parts, effective April 3, aiming to boost domestic manufacturing.
Cheddar
- The UNH poll found that 59% of Rhode Island residents disapprove of Trump’s performance, while 40% approve.
- 61% of Rhode Island residents disapprove of how Trump has handled the conflict in Ukraine, and 60% disapprove of his handling of foreign affairs overall.
- 61% of Rhode Island residents disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy, and 58% disapprove of his use of tariffs
- Trump’s action on transgender female athletes is the only policy surveyed that most Rhode Island residents agree with.
Most Rhode Island residents disapprove of President Donald Trump’s performance, including his handling of the economy and the Ukraine conflict, revealed a new poll from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center.
The poll found that 59% of Rhode Island residents disapprove of Trump’s performance, while 40% approve. That means two months in, his net approval rating among Rhode Islanders is -19%.
Of those who disapprove of Trump’s performance, 21% cite undermining democracy/the Constitution as their most important reason and 9% each said illegal acts and budget or government cuts.
Of those who approve, 27% said handling of immigration, 20% said keeping campaign promises, and 12% said leadership or decisiveness.
There’s a wide partisan gap in his approval, with 94% of Democrats disapproving of his performance and 88% of Republicans approving. Also, 66% of Independents in Rhode Island also approve of Trump.
While Rhode Island residents largely disapprove of his handling of foreign affairs, including the Ukraine conflict and the economy, like tariffs, many do approve of his policy on transgender athletes.
The poll is based on survey responses from 656 Rhode Island residents completed between March 20-24. The margin of error is +/- 3.8%.
Rhode Islanders disapprove of Trump’s handling of Ukraine
About 61% of Rhode Island residents disapprove of how Trump has handled the conflict in Ukraine, and 60% disapprove of his handling of foreign affairs overall.
Trump has pledged to end the war between Russia and Ukraine but has clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, most notably telling him to leave after a meeting in the Oval Office.
In Rhode Island, 78% believe that Russia is responsible for starting the war, and a plurality believe that Russia poses the greatest threat to the U.S. About 78% see Russia as a rival or enemy of the country, including majorities in both parties.
Rhode Islanders disapprove of tariffs and expect a recession
Trump has repeatedly threatened, imposed and then reversed tariffs on countries like Canada, Mexico, and the European Union. Starting April 2, Trump is set to impose a 25% tariff on imported passenger vehicles, light trucks and some auto parts.
About 61% of Rhode Island residents disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy, and 58% disapprove of his use of tariffs.
While nearly all Democrats disapprove of both, 88% of Republicans and 60% of Independents approve of his handling of the economy and 80% and 50% respectively approve of tariffs.
In early March, Trump wouldn’t say whether the U.S. could face a recession this year. With that, 63% of Rhode Island residents believe that a recession is likely in the next 12 months, including 86% of Democrats, 51% of Independents, and 24% of Republicans.
Rhode Islanders agree with transgender sports policy
Trump’s action on transgender student athletes is the only policy surveyed that most Rhode Island residents agree with.
In February, Trump signed an executive order banning transgender student athletes from competing on women’s sports teams. The poll found that 66% of Rhode Island residents agree that transgender students should not be competing in women’s sports.
However, Rhode Islanders are split on whether the federal government or state governments should decide policy on transgender participation in sports. A plurality overall, 44%, said it should be made at the federal level, including 75% of Republicans. But 40% overall, and a plurality (48%) of Democrats said it should be left up to the states.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The president of the union representing Rhode Island Public Transit Authority employees is urging state lawmakers to close a massive budget deficit at the agency.
Under the current state budget proposal, RIPTA now faces a $32 million deficit after COVID-era assistance funds dried up, and ridership still has not rebounded to pre-pandemic numbers.
In a letter to lawmakers Thursday, the union’s president said that not addressing the budget gap could mean laying off hundreds of employees, and cutting service.
Senate President Dominick Ruggerio has responded to that letter telling ABC6 in part:
Rhode Islanders deserve a robust public transit system that is run efficiently and sustainably. In today’s tight fiscal climate, the senate finance committee will be considering all funding proposals, including funding for RIPTA.
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