Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Tiverton's legislators told the Town Council on Monday that any plans to subvert tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge would need to fill a $17 million funding gap.
Tiverton's legislative delegation told the Town Council on Monday that any efforts to undermine the the placement of tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge would need to address a $17 million annual funding shortfall. According to Sen. Louis P. DiPalma, to maintain Newport County's four bridges - the Newport Pell Bridge, Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge, Mt. Hope Bridge, and the Sakonnet - will cost the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) $38 million annually over the next 10 years. Effectively, the revenues from a Sakonnet River Bridge toll would do more to pay for maintenance projects on the RITBA's other older bridges, as the Sakonnet River Bridge is a state-of-the-art new construction, said Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. Dist. 70…
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Tiverton Town Hall
343 Highland Rd, Tiverton, RI
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Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Rep. John G. Edwards (D – Dist. 70, Portsmouth, Tiverton) has been named senior deputy majority leader.
The following is from a press release. Rep. John G. Edwards (D – Dist. 70, Portsmouth, Tiverton) has been named senior deputy majority leader of the Rhode Island House of Representatives for the 2013-2014 legislative session. “I am honored to have been chosen by Speaker Fox to serve in this capacity,” Representative Edwards said this week. “I take my leadership responsibilities very seriously and I will do everything I can to support my colleagues as we continue to break barriers and help our communities thrive. I’m looking forward to a great legislative session.” As the senior deputy majority leader, Representative Edwards serves as an official member of the House leadership team. His duties include overseeing the 10 additional deputy …
Thursday, June 14, 2012
It eliminates the criminal charge for carrying one ounce or less of marijuana and instead impose a civil penalty of a $150 fine, plus forfeiture of the drug.
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Thursday, June 14, 2012
The following is from a State House press release: Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee has signed legislation to decriminalize marijuana, making Rhode Island the 15th state in the nation to sign similar legislation. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Warwick) and Representative John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton, Portsmouth), eliminates the criminal charge for carrying 1 ounce or less of marijuana and instead impose a civil penalty of a $150 fine, plus forfeiture of the drug. A third offense within 18 months of the previous offense would be treated as a misdemeanor. The bills were approved by both sides last week. “I’m very happy the governor has decided to support this legislation,” said Representative Edwards…
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
The bills will now be passed to the opposing chamber for a vote. If enacted, Rhode Island would become the 15th state to decriminalize marijuana.
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Wednesday, June 6, 2012
The following is from a State House press release. The full Senate and House approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Warwick) and Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton, Portsmouth) to eliminate the criminal charge for carrying one ounce or less of marijuana. Instead, the new law, if approved, would impose a civil penalty of a $150 fine, plus forfeiture of the drug. A third offense within 18 months of the previous offense would be treated as a misdemeanor. The legislation passed the House in a 50 to 24 vote and passed the Senate in a 28 to 6 vote. Each bill must now travel across the rotunda to pass the opposite chamber in order to become law. Under the provisions of the Senate and House bills (…
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Rep. John Edwards' bill, along with the Senate version, now move to floor votes.
Legislators could be making floor votes on bills next week that will decriminalize the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana after it received the endorsements of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on Tuesday, reports The Providence Journal. According to a legislative press aide for Rep. John Edwards (D-Tiverton, Portsmouth) on Wednesday, his bill (H-7092), also attached to this post, received the approval of the House Juduciary Committee and the floor vote could come as early as next Tuesday. State Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Cranston) introduced similar legislation (S-2253), also attached to this post, which received Judiciary Committee support. A three strike provision now exists in the proposals, invoking a civil penalty and fine …
Thursday, April 12, 2012
The bill would require any group or political action committee advocating for a charter-amending question on a ballot to file a report of all contributions received from a sole source in excess of $100.
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Thursday, April 12, 2012
The following press release was issued by the office of Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Tiverton, Portsmouth): A bill aiming to shed light on contributions to political parties and action committees for charter-amending questions will now head to the Rhode Island Senate for consideration after the House of Representatives voted in favor of it on Thursday. The bill (2012-H 7060aa), sponsored by Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton, Portsmouth), would require any group or political action committee advocating for a charter-amending question on a ballot to file a report of all contributions received from a sole source in excess of $100. It would also expand the current law to include contributions in relation to any town or city charter …
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82 Smith St, Providence, RI
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Monday, March 12, 2012
Patch reported live from Tiverton's Town Council meeting of Monday, March 12.
7 p.m. The meeting begins. Rep. Edwards seeks support for Sakonnet River Bridge bill 7:04 p.m. Council votes 6-0 to support House Bill H-7306 by Rep. Jay Edwards (D-Tiverton, Portsmouth) pertaining to the Sakonnet River Bridge. Councilor Cecil Leonard is absent. Edwards says the bill stops the change of bridge ownership from the Department of Transportation to the Bridge and Turnpike Authortiy, and prohibits tolls. "It would be an added tax to the citizens in the East Bay area," Edwards said, adding tolls will be at or more than the cost for the Newport Pell Bridge toll, and will completely cut off Tiverton from the rest of the state. A copy of the bill is attached to this post. Adoption of carryforwards and transfers policy 7:09 p.m. …
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Tiverton Town Hall
343 Highland Rd, Tiverton, RI
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Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Rep. Jay Edwards, citing statistics from the Department of Transportation, reportedly made the claim on talk radio earlier this month.
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Tuesday, February 21, 2012
If you use the Sakonnet River Bridge on a daily basis, are you driving a vehicle with license plates other than Rhode Island? PolitiFacts' Truth-o-Meter recently deemed a statement made by Rep. Jay Edwards (D-Tiverton, Portsmouth) on talk radio earlier this month that 40 percent of the traffic traveling over the bridge is from out of state as "mostly true." As work crews continue completing a new bridge to span Portsmouth and Tiverton and the Rhode Island Bridge and Turnpike Authority looks to create revenue by raising or placing tolls on bridges in the region, Edwards and other legislators have voiced opposition to any proposals for tolls.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
The hearing, which is today at the State House, would require tighter financial reporting from local political action committees surrounding election ballot questions endorsements.
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Wednesday, February 15, 2012
The following is from a press release issued from Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Tiverton, Portsmouth): Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Portsmouth, Tiverton) has introduced a bill that would require political parties and action committees advocating for any charter-amending question on a ballot to file a report of all the contributions it receives from any one source in excess of $100. The bill would expand the law to include any town or city charter amendment considered at a Financial Town Meeting in addition to election ballots. The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the bill (2012-H 7060) on Wednesday, Feb. 15, around 4:30 p.m. at the Rise of the House in Room 313 of the State House. Edwards on campaign finance reporting. “It’s…
41.83155
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82 Smith St, Providence, RI
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Saturday, February 4, 2012
Do you think marijuana should be decriminalized? Why or why not?
A new poll shows strong support for decriminalizing marijuana in the Ocean State. The Providence Journal reports that, out of 714 Rhode Island residents recently polled, a total of 65 percent said they wanted to see penalties for marijuana possession decreased. These results come from a new poll by The Marijuana Policy Project group and was conducted by Public Policy Polling, a Democratic Party-affiliated pollster. In 2011, state Rep. John Edwards (D-Tiverton, Portsmouth) introduced legislation supporting the decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana. The legislation did not pass; however, WPRI reported this past January, Edwards hopes to continue his effort to decriminalize up to an ounce of marijuana in Rhode Island. We want to …
Joe Sousa
5:48 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
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