EG Legislators Get Committee Assignments

The first full week of the legislative session is over and committee assignments have been doled out. Not surprisingly, none of the three legislators representing East Greenwich have committee leadership positions. In the heavily Democratic General Assembly, two EG legislators are Republicans. The Democrat, while not without GA experience, is returning after a two-year break.

EG’s senior legislator, Sen. Dawson Hodgson (R-Dist. 35), has retained spots on the judiciary and labor committees and picked up a place on the oversight committee. He is also on the Joint Committee on Economic Development. He recorded Newsmakers on Rhode Island Public Radio a week ago. To hear that segment, click here.

Sen. Lou Raptakis (D-Dist. 33) was named to the judiciary and special legislation and veterans’ affairs committees. Raptakis had served in the General Assembly for several terms before making a run for secretary of state two years ago. He won back the senate seat from Glen Shibley in November.

Raptakis, who owns a pizza restaurant in Coventry, also introduced a bill calling for repeal of a new regulation requiring restaurants, bars and alcohol retailers to provide sales reports to the Division of Taxation.

Newly-minted state Representative Anthony Giarrusso (R-30) picked up seats on the small business and labor committees. He also was interviewed by Capital TV. Check out that interview here.