Latest news with #DominickJ.Ruggerio
Boston Globe
03-06-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Key R.I. House committee poised to vote to advance ban on assault-style weapons
'I think it will be a really good day for Rhode Island,' Knight, a Barrington Democrat, said Tuesday morning. 'We will be one step closer to making Rhode Island a safer state. I'm glad the politics have finally caught up to the voters, who clearly want this legislation.' If the House approves the legislation on Thursday, as expected, attention will shift to the Senate and whether Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up The legislation stands a real chance of becoming law this year thanks in large part to former Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio, a longtime foe of such legislation who said Advertisement Senator Louis P. DiPalma, a Middletown Democrat, has introduced 'I hope they do the right thing,' Knight said. 'If the bill passes in the House, I hope they pass it in the Senate, even if their Judiciary Committee is structured in a way for it to have a difficult road there.' Advertisement Governor Daniel J. McKee, a Democrat, has long backed a ban on assault-style weapons, and this year he underscored that support by Related : Tuesday's House committee vote comes one day after the Three conservative justices dissented, showing that the high court is still divided on how to handle Second Amendment cases after it expanded gun rights in a 2022 landmark decision. Another conservative justice said the Supreme Court should address the validity of bans on assault-style rifles like the AR-15 in the next term or two. Knight said none of that should prevent Rhode Island from passing a ban on assault-style weapons. 'States should generally go ahead with their legislation unless it's clearly against the law because that is how federalism works,' he said. 'On this issue in particular, I think the Supreme Court has spoken without speaking. They have had opportunity to take up assault weapons bans and haven't done it.' Ten states and the District of Columbia have similar bans on assault-style weapons, covering major cities like New York and Los Angeles. Advertisement In April, the Boston-based First US Circuit Court of Appeals Massachusetts' ban 'does not impose a heavy burden on civilian self-defense,' Judge Gary Katzmann wrote on behalf of the First Circuit court, adding that those challenging it 'do not demonstrate a single instance where the AR-15 — or any other banned weapon — has actually been used in a self-defense scenario.' In Rhode Island, the House Judiciary Committee is expected to consider an amendment to Knight's bill that would replace a requirement that grandfathered assault weapons be registered with police. Opponents had called the requirement clearly unconstitutional. The amendment would create a voluntary program through which those who already own assault weapons could get a certificate of possession from their local police department that would serve as legally admissible proof that their weapon is grandfathered, the House said in a statement. To address concerns that such certificates would serve as a de facto registry, the amendment's language prohibits police from keeping any record of the application or granting of such certificates. Since the certificate program would be voluntary, grandfathered owners could legally opt to do nothing when the bill takes effect, the House said. The amendment also would include 'more precise definitions' of the weapons that would be prohibited, the House said. The legislation would prohibit the manufacture, purchase, sale, transfer and possession of certain assault weapons including certain types of semiautomatic shotguns, rifles and pistols. Anyone convicted of violating the ban would face criminal penalties. The bill would provide exemptions for current and retired law enforcement officers, active-duty members of the armed forces, National Guard or reserves, federally licensed firearm dealers, and anyone who lawfully possesses an assault weapon when the ban would take effect on July 1, 2026. Advertisement The House noted the ban on assault-style weapons is the only major unaddressed recommendation made by a gun-safety working group established by former governor Gina M. Raimondo after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. The General Assembly has passed legislation to ban Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Dominick Ruggerio, RI Senate president who served for decades, dies at 76.
PROVIDENCE – Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio died early on the morning of April 21 after a battle with cancer, according to a statement issued by his office. He was 76. "It is with deepest sorrow that we announce the passing of Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio earlier this morning," the statement said. "We are so grateful for the love and support of his friends and colleagues. Throughout his illness, Donny fought valiantly, just as he always had for his constituents and the residents of Rhode Island." Considered the dean of the Rhode Island Senate, Ruggerio was the chamber's most senior member. He served in the General Assembly for nearly 44 years, and was re-elected for more than twenty consecutive terms. An old-school Democrat who represented parts of North Providence and the North End of Providence, Ruggerio devoted his career to advancing trade unions' agendas and was instrumental in legalizing sports betting in Rhode Island. Ruggerio grew up in the Fruit Hill neighborhood of North Providence. His father, Mario "Charlie" Ruggerio, ran The Chalet, an Italian restaurant on Mineral Spring Avenue that allegedly had ties to the Patriarca crime family and served as a hangout for mob figures. After graduating from La Salle Academy and Providence College, Ruggerio spent five years working as a policy aide to Lt. Gov. Thomas DiLugio, who died in December. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1980, when he was 32 years old. Though relatively young, Ruggerio had powerful political connections: His father-in-law, Rocco A. Quattrocchi, served as Senate Majority Leader and Democratic state chairman. When Quattrochi stepped down in 1984, Ruggerio took his place, moving from the House to the Senate. 'Being my son-in-law, I figured, why not give it to him? Who else was I going to give it to?" Quattrocchi told The Providence Journal years later, after Ruggerio and his former wife, Cynthia, filed for divorce. As a freshman lawmaker, Ruggerio was hired as the Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority's director of marketing and planning – a move that raised eyebrows because he lacked experience in mass transit. He left that job to take over The Chalet after his father died, but sold the restaurant in 1985 and began a decades-long career with the powerful Laborers' International Union of North America, which represents construction workers. 'Donny,' as he was known to colleagues in the Statehouse, started out as a field representative for the Rhode Island Laborers' District Council. By 2005, he'd become an administrator for the New England Laborers' Labor-Management Cooperation Trust, a LIUNA affiliate that pursues construction contracts for members. Ruggerio retired in 2017, when he was elected Senate president, but continued to champion projects and policies that would create jobs for union members. In recent years, that resulted in the passage of a number of climate initiatives. In addition to his pro-labor stance, Ruggerio was also known for his strong support for expanding legalized gambling. In the 1990s, he proposed allowing Narragansett Indian Tribe to build a casino in Providence. One of his first moves as a freshman lawmaker was to request a study commission on state-run sports betting. Rhode Island legalized online sports betting in 2019, in large part due to Ruggerio's efforts. He also successfully pushed the legislature to authorize remote iGaming in 2023. In 1992, Providence Journal columnist M. Charles Bakst described Ruggerio as a 'low-profile senator' who rarely gave floor speeches. But in the 2000s, he began climbing the rungs of Senate leadership. He was elected Senate Majority Leader in 2011, and ascended to the presidency in 2017. Ruggerio, who re-read Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War' at least 15 times, took a pragmatic approach to politics – which meant occasionally putting his own socially conservative views aside as the chamber shifted left. In 2019, he allowed legislation that codified Roe v. Wade in state law to move forward, even though he personally opposed abortion and voted against the bill. And despite earning an 'A' rating from the National Rifle Association throughout his career, he shepherded a number of gun control bills through the legislature in recent years. "I'd be horrified if something ever happened to my grandchildren because of something like that and I stood by and did nothing,' he told The Journal in 2020. Ruggerio revealed his cancer diagnosis last April, after his repeated absences from the Senate and use of a cane prompted questions about his health. Although he was unable to preside over the Senate for most of the legislative session, he ran for re-election last fall, relying on other Democratic politicians to campaign on his behalf. Ruggerio handily defeated three-time challenger Lenny Cioe in the September primary. But he skipped his own victory party, saying that he was recuperating after complications from shingles required him to undergo surgery. In December, he faced an attempted coup led by his former second-in-command, Sen. Ryan Pearson, who questioned whether Ruggerio could still govern effectively. But the majority of senators voted to keep Ruggerio in the top role – which, among other things, underscored the respect he'd earned. 'I don't know if I'll ever be gone,'' Ruggerio told The Providence Journal when he revealed his cancer diagnosis in April 2024, making clear that he had no plans to step down. "I tell people, I got nowhere to go, nothing to do and all day to do it,' he said. 'I have no hobbies. I enjoy what I'm doing. I absolutely love representing the people that I represent in the 4th Senatorial District." This story was updated to add a video and with new information. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI Senate President Dominick Ruggerio dies at 76
Boston Globe
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Dominic Ruggerio, RI Senate president, has died
Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up But last week Pare said in a statement that the senator had been admitted to Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in North Providence after experiencing 'a reaction to a treatment he is undergoing.' Advertisement Rhode Island Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio, left, speaks with Senator Jake Bissaillon prior to Thursday's Senate session. Edward Fitzpatrick Mr. Ruggerio, a North Providence Democrat, was considered the 'dean' of the Senate, the chamber's longest-serving member, first winning election in 1985 when he succeeded Senate Majority Leader Rocco Quattrocchi, his one-time father-in-law. He previously served in the state House of Representatives from 1981 to 1984. Mr. Ruggerio had served as Senate president since March 2017. He served as majority leader from 2010 to 2017, and as majority whip from 2003 through 2010. He retired as an administrator of the New England Laborers Labor Management Coop Trust. Advertisement In the Senate, Mr. Ruggerio served as a powerful advocate for union legislation, but he was also an outspoken advocate for business tax cuts and economic development proposals. And while he held conservative views on issues such as abortion and gun control, he played a key role in the passage of legislation that provided for health insurance coverage for abortions and limits on the size of gun magazines. Mr. Ruggerio represented Senate District 4, which includes portions of North Providence and Providence. 'Rhode Islanders are struggling under the weight of inflation, which is why a chief focus for me has been providing relief to struggling residents and businesses,' he said in launching his 2024 reelection campaign. 'Serving in the state Senate is a tremendous honor. I work each day to deliver results for the people of North Providence and Providence.' Providence, RI - 1/07/2020 - Rhode Island State House opens its 2020 legislative session. Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio pictured. - (Barry Chin/Globe Staff), Section: Metro, Reporter: Edward Fitzpatrick, Topic: 08Rhode Island Politics, LOID: 5e13ef545908010001a4332e. Barry Chin/Globe Staff/The Boston Globe Last year, Mr. Ruggerio withstood a leadership challenge from former Senate Majority Leader Ryan W. Pearson. 'For the sake of our beloved Senate institution, and for the sake of our constituents, it's time to move past our differences and to come together to work on many issues facing our state,' he said at the time. Mr. Ruggerio took offense when Pearson When the 2025 legislative session commenced in January, the 38-member Advertisement On Feb. 25, the Senate said Mr. Ruggerio would be absent because had ' Providence, RI - 1/07/2020 - Rhode Island State House opens its 2020 legislative session. Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio pictured. - (Barry Chin/Globe Staff), Section: Metro, Reporter: Edward Fitzpatrick, Topic: 08Rhode Island Politics, LOID: 5e13ef545908010001a4332e. Barry Chin/Globe Staff/The Boston Globe Mr. Ruggerio was known for advocating for tax cuts. In 2023, he Mr. Ruggerio previously co-sponsored the legislation that slashed the top state income tax rate from 9.9 percent to 5.99 percent. And he regularly In 2023, Mr. Ruggerio also championed legislation that now Advertisement Over the years, Mr. Ruggerio regularly For years, Mr. Ruggerio received an 'A' rating from the National Rifle Association for his opposition to proposed gun control laws, and he described himself as a 'Second Amendment person.' But in 2022, he played a For years, Mr. Ruggerio maintained that any ban on assault-style weapons should be enacted on the federal level rather than by the state legislature. But during Mr. Ruggerio has been endorsed by the Rhode Island Right to Life Committee and opposed abortion rights in the past. But in 2023, he voted for the Mr. Ruggerio backed legislation aimed at addressing climate change. In 2022, he championed legislation putting Rhode Island on track to be the first state to require Advertisement Mr. Ruggerio addressed the state's Mr. Ruggerio also was concerned about animal welfare and has received The Humane Society of the United States' Humane Legislator Award. He sponsored new laws to put an end to the curbside sale of cats and dogs, and to allow the Rhode Island Family Court to issue restraining orders to protect animals. Born in Providence in 1948, Mr. Ruggerio graduated from La Salle Academy in 1966. He attended Bryant College and received a bachelor's degree from Providence College in 1974. He served on the board of the Wanskuck Library and as a member of the Sons of Italy, Loggia Vittoria, and the DaVinci Center Development Committee. Mr. Ruggerio was the father of two children, Charles and Amanda, and the grandfather to Ava, Mia, Natalie, and Jameson. Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
R.I. Senate introduces health care legislative package
The Rhode Island Senate chamber is seen empty during the legislative recess in summer 2024. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Nine bills arriving soon on the Rhode Island Senate floor aim to make health care more affordable and accessible for Rhode Islanders. The legislative package was announced Wednesday morning by Senate leadership and Sen. Melissa Murray, a Woonsocket Democrat who now chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services. Murray was appointed last month to fill the vacancy left by Sen. Joshua Miller, who decided not to seek re-election last year. 'The bills we are highlighting with this announcement are key parts of the Senate's action on health care, but there is a great deal of other extremely important work being done by many of our colleagues,' Murray said in a statement. 'Solving this crisis cannot be done through a single piece of legislation, or by one collection of bills.' Murray's contribution to the stack of bills would eliminate prior authorization for therapies and medical services ordered by primary care doctors. The bill does include some exceptions that the potential law 'shall not be construed to prohibit prior authorization requirements for brand-name prescription drugs and controlled substances,' according to its text. Services ordered by doctors with documented histories of fraud or abuse could also continue to be subject to prior authorization. Murray said in a statement the bill is designed to expedite care for patients and prevent them from getting caught up in insurance obstacles. 'It is the doctors, not insurers, who know best what care is needed for their patients. And we need our primary care doctors focused on providing care, not haggling with insurance companies,' she stated. Prospect asks federal bankruptcy judge to expedite sale of Roger Williams, Fatima hospitals Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio pointed to health care issues on his own turf as indicative of the bigger challenges facing Rhode Islanders. He cited the importance of Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in North Providence, which together with Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence, is being sold by cash-strapped Prospect Medical Holdings. The sale of both safety net hospitals to prospective buyer The Centurion Foundation must be approved by a federal bankruptcy judge. 'In my own community of North Providence, the situation surrounding Fatima Hospital's future has exemplified many of the challenges we are working to address, and driven home the very real, very serious consequences for Rhode Island families,' Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio said in a statement. 'With the bills in this package, and many other pieces of legislation introduced by my colleagues, the Senate remains focused on making health care less costly, and easier to get, for every resident of our state.' Sen. Majority Leader Valarie Lawson's bill would see people over age 65 enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B 'guaranteed' the right to enroll in supplemental coverage to cover services not in their standard plan. The enrollment period would be chosen by the state's Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner. The health care system 'can be a time-consuming headache, for both providers and patients,' especially when it comes to finding care or getting prescriptions, Lawson said in a statement. Also included in the package: Medical debt relief. One bill by Sen. John Burke, a West Warwick Democrat, would cap the interest rate on new medical debt to be between 1.5% and 4% annually. Another led by Sen. Jake Bissaillon, a Providence Democrat, would stop liens being placed on homes because of medical debt. Spread pricing limits. Two bills — one by freshman Sen. Lori Urso, a Pawtucket Democrat, and the other by Sen. Linda Ujifusa, a Portsmouth Democrat — would prohibit spread pricing by health insurers. The practice can be used by pharmacy benefit managers, which often handle prescription drug benefits for health insurance companies, and involves charging payers more for a drug than what it costs at the pharmacy. The benefit managers then keep the difference. Ujifusa's bill specifically targets Medicaid managed plans; Urso's bill focuses on commercial insurers. Financial aid for doctor education. A bill by Sen. Brian Thompson, a newly elected Woosocket Democrat, would use Medicaid funding to support graduate medical education programs in areas such as trauma care, primary care and maternal and mental health. Vaccine delivery. A bill by Sen. Robert Britto, a Rumford Democrat, would clarify state law regarding pharmacist administration of vaccines. Cutting through licensing red tape. A bill by Sen. Peter A. Appollonio Jr., a freshman Warwick Democrat, wants to address medical license backlogs by permitting the Rhode Island Department of Health to evaluate medical licensing applications if the relevant public body which would normally approve it has not been able to meet quorum in the past 30 days. The Rhode Island Department of Health Could approve or deny the license. The bills, once introduced, will go to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services for initial hearings. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
