Rep. Casey to lead House Committee
on Municipal Government and Housing

 

STATE HOUSE — Rep. Stephen Casey will chair the House Committee on Municipal Government and Housing, Speaker of the House K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) has announced.

Chairman Casey (D-Dist. 50, Woonsocket), who was first elected to the House in 2012, has previously led the House Committee on Special Legislation from 2019-2020 and the House Committee on Health and Human Services from 2021 to 2022.

“During the pandemic over the last two years, Chairman Casey provided invaluable leadership in the health and human services field.  For the next two years, the lack of affordable housing is one of the most critical issues facing our state,” said Speaker Shekarchi.  “Most of the bills in a legislative package on housing will be heard in the Municipal Government and Housing Committee, and I can count on the veteran leadership of Chairman Casey to conduct fair and impartial public hearings on such a vital issue. He will also lend an important perspective as a representative from an urban community facing a housing crunch.”  

The House Committee on Municipal Government and Housing considers all matters affecting municipal governments, transportation and housing issues.

“As a proud employee of the city of Woonsocket, I know the vital role our cities and towns play in the lives of Rhode Islanders,” said Chairman Casey, a Woonsocket firefighter. “I’m honored to receive this appointment and look forward to our work partnering with local government and making housing more affordable for Rhode Island families.”

Chairman Casey will also serve on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, which handles all legislation impacting the lives of Rhode Island veterans and those currently in military service; the House Committee on Labor, which deliberates legislation relating to workers’ compensation and labor laws; the House Committee on Corporations, which considers issues relating to financial institutions, business regulation, property and casualty insurance and consumer protection; and the House Committee on Special Legislation, which handles bills pertaining to commissions, resolutions and issues that do not fall within the purview of other standing committees.

 

 

The wait for a New York grand jury's decision on whether to indict former President Trump will continue to next week. The grand jury hearing the case involving alleged hush money paid to an adult film actress typically doesn't consider it on Thursdays and doesn't meet on Fridays. The grand jury is viewing evidence and hearing testimony regarding claims that Trump ordered a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.       President Biden is requesting Congress approve over seven-billion-dollars in aid to three Pacific island countries. The ask comes as the U.S. and China compete to influence the region. The money would provide economic assistance over the next 20 years to the Marshall Islands, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia.        South Korea is blasting North Korea's test of a so-called secret weapon. North Korea's state news agency said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test of an underwater drone that can trigger a so-called "radioactive tsunami" on Tuesday. The president of South Korea said today he would "make sure North Korea pays the price for its reckless provocations."       A decision on a White House run by former Vice President Mike Pence could be coming soon. Yesterday, Pence told Fox News that he and his wife have "gotten a lot of encouragement around the country" and now they're "getting closer to a decision." The former Indiana governor has already started traveling to early primary states where he's announced his stance on a handful of GOP issues.       Forty-five-thousand Disney World workers will be getting a raise. The Florida theme park and the Services Trade Council Union agreed to a new contract yesterday. The union's workers will get raises of at least three dollars an hour this year.        "John Wick: Chapter 4" is headed for a franchise-best opening weekend. Deadline reports the latest entry in the Keanu Reeves-starring franchise raked in about eight-million dollars during Thursday night previews. The film is on track to make at least 70-million dollars domestic on its opening weekend, and 115-million dollars globally.