State Feed: Rhode Island

Citizens' Rights Safe in Many States as State Legislatures End Sessions

Tue, 18 May 2010 14:23:59 -0400

Of the 45 states whose legislatures hold sessions in 2010, 27 of them have adjourned for the year, and 5 more will wrap up before the end of the month. Of the more than 80 bills dealing with the initiative and referendum process in various states, 51 of them would have reduced citizens’ initiative rights. Thanks to the work of activists in our coalitions, only 3 bills reducing citizen’s rights have passed and become law.

Rhode Island's Battle for Initiative & Referendum

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:15:31 -0400

The power of initiative and referendum has been withheld from Rhode Islanders for over a century. Voters advised the legislature to provide for an initiative process, but that request was ignored by the state legislature. You can read the history of the battle in Rhode Island here.

Rhode Islanders Could Vote to Change State Name

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:48:15 -0400

Under a bill in the current legislature, Rhode Island voters could be asked to decide whether to change the state’s official name. The official name is ‘Rhode Island and Providence Plantations’. Some residents argue that the term ‘Plantations’ invokes images of slavery and want that part dropped from the name. Lawmakers note that ‘plantation’ referred to any farm, slaveholding or not, at the time the state was founded.

Read the story on Yahoo News

Rhode Island Senate panel debating casino gambling bill

Thu, 14 May 2009 12:39:37 -0400

Rhode Island voters would face a referendum on full-scale casino gambling under a bill being debated by a State senate committee.

Read the story from CNBC