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| At work in her House Environment Committee office at the State Capitol |
Progressive Charlestown
In our discussion, she went beyond the report she delivered to the Charlestown Town Council on July 11 on Assembly actions that directly affected the town, such as the more than $700,000 she got the state to keep in the budget for the overdue dredging of the Charlestown Breechway. We talked about the economy, taxes, the deficit, family farms, justice, health and the environment.
Donna went into this year’s session with an ambitious agenda that put growing the economy and creating jobs at the top of the list. In addition to several economic development bills she introduced at the beginning of the session, she also championed a package of five bills from the Rhode Island Farm Bureau to help family farmers.
She also introduced bills to improve the justice system, make roadways safer, and protect the environment.
We also talked about the nitty-gritty of the legislative process – the “sausage-making” detail of what really goes on behind the scenes.
First, some highlights. Donna ended up introducing a lot more bills than she had planned. As an experienced legislator with a reputation for being effective, she was asked by groups like the Farm Bureau, the ACLU, the Southern Rhode Island League, Clean Water Action, as well as the four towns in her district to sponsor legislation.
When the dust settled and the adjournment gavel banged, fourteen of Donna’s bills had been enacted and sent to the Governor for his signature. Most lawmakers call it a great session if they get three bills enacted.
Donna’s bill, H-5122, to require that repeat traffic offenders be required to go to court after their third offense, rather than mail in their fines, was a sweet win. This bill is a follow-up to last year’s “Colin Foote Law” and closes one of the loopholes Colin’s killer, Laura Reale, used to hold on to her driver’s license.
Another signed bill, H-5287, requested by the Southern Rhode Island League, provides fire-fighters and first responders with relief from liability when they respond to hazardous materials spills and accidents.
Donna also had success with bills on health care and civil rights:
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| Pregnant prisoner giving birth while chained |
H-5257 unshackles women prisoners who are in the process of giving birth (providing they don’t otherwise pose a threat). Republican Minority Leader Brian Newberry challenged the bill, saying that it imposed too many restraints on law enforcement, and noted that some of the women could be murderers. Donna noted that women about to deliver a baby have enough trouble with their balance to be able to stand or walk while in chains. As for the potential for flight risk, Donna said, "The top thing on her mind is not getting away, it's getting to the hospital. Ask a pregnant woman how fast she can run."
Donna also succeeded – after many attempts – to get H-5366 passed. This is an ACLU measure that would set rules for the recording of police interrogations. Donna noted that this bill not only protects the rights of suspects, but also protects the police and does a better job of preserving evidence that is necessary both for a fair trial and a successful prosecution.
H-5633 will create a new public commission to examine the ways that the quality and quantity of health care differ among different ethnic and economic groups, and recommend solutions to remedy injustices. H-6108 will require doctors to screen newborns for all medical conditions where early detection and treatment can benefit the child.
Donna was first co-sponsor on seven successful bills. One of them was H-5203 proposed by Westerly students to require used cooking oil at restaurants and commercial establishments be collected for recycling into bio-diesel fuel.
But for every bill that passes, many other good ones fail. So despite a great session, many of Donna’s good ideas were left on the table. That will be the topic for Part 2.
