Sen. Felag Ranks High In Open Meetings Report

Senate committee chaired by Sen. Walter Felag Jr. scores 100 percent.

  Sen. Walter Felag Jr. showed a committment to transparency and the state open meetings law, reports the Secretary of State's Office. The Senate committee chaired by Felag (D-Bristol, Tiverton, Warren) complied with the state's open meetings law 100 percent of the time last year, according to a new report from Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis. Access 2012 reviewed the performance of every House and Senate committee during last year's legislative session. The open meetings law requires most governmental bodies to post meeting notices and agendas at least 48 hours in advance. Under Felag’s leadership, the Senate Special Legislation and Veterans’ Affairs Committee had a perfect record for the second consecutive year. “It has always been my…

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Without Sakonnet Tolls, Bridges Face $17 Million Funding Shortfall

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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Joe Sousa

5:48 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Two words "Pay Pal" Your friend didn't do his home work.   more ›

Letter to the Editor

Letter: Tolls Are A Barrier To Economic Growth

Sen. Walter Felag writes a letter to the editor.

To the editor: As another legislative session ends, the General Assembly erred in their vote to implement tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge, which will probably be erected late next summer, 2013. I voted for a floor amendment to eliminate this budget article from the budget and against the final FY13 budget which included the Sakonnet River bridge toll. For the past 14 years as your State Senator, I have fought diligently against tolls on the Mt Hope and Sakonnet River Bridge. Unfortunately, our local East Bay Representatives and Senators were outnumbered. In my speech on the Senate floor last night, I spoke about this unfair tax on my Tiverton constituents, who go over the bridge for work, appointments and family obligations. This toll …

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Senate OKs Felag Bill For Veteran’s Driver’s License, ID

The bill was reportedly introduced at the suggestion of a Tiverton constituent.

The following is a press release: Veterans, says Sen. Walter S. Felag Jr. (D-Dist. 10, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton), have every reason in the world to be proud of their service to the nation. Soon, they will be able to display the fact that they served honorably on ID cards and drivers’ licenses issued by the state. The Senate today approved legislation, 2012-S 2161Aaa, directing the Division of Motor Vehicles to make available a veteran-status driver’s license or identification card to any honorably discharged service member who presents a Certificate of Release from Active Duty or other acceptable documentation of military service. Felag said he introduced the legislation at the suggestion of a Tiverton constituent and also to add Rhode …

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Joe Sousa.

7:42 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2012

Great ! Now can you find the time to work on the Unfunded mandate issue. It would sure help .   more ›