PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — For Rhode Island lawmakers, this was the year to play it safe.
Fall elections are coming up, the state’s economy continues to struggle and fallout from last year’s vote to overhaul state pensions remains unclear. Meanwhile, the government was rocked by questions about state support for former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling’s video game company.
Perhaps as a result, lawmakers made no drastic changes to the tax code, approved no landmark municipal pension reforms, held no big debates on gay marriage. Instead, the General Assembly session that ended Wednesday was marked by modest accomplishments. Depending on whom you ask, that’s either a relief or a wasted opportunity.
“It’s been a status-quo session,” summed up House Minority Leader Brian Newberry, R-North Smithfield. “They (the Assembly’s Democratic majority) ruffled the feathers of people whose support they normally take for granted. They got nervous.”
The five-month session wasn’t without its headlines. Lawmakers voted to join 14 other states in decriminalizing marijuana. They rewrote the state’s medical marijuana dispensary law to assuage fears of federal prosecution. They imposed taxes on pet grooming, taxi fares and clothing items costing $250 or more.
They also voted to place a casino referendum for the Newport Grand slot parlor on the November ballot.
In creating a homeless bill of rights to protect the homeless against discrimination, lawmakers did something no other state has done. They moved to discourage minors from using tanning salons and decided to prohibit murderers and other violent offenders from winning early prison release through good behavior.
Top legislators say the Assembly took several steps to boost the economy and quality of life. Lawmakers voted to boost school spending by $31 million and restore $10 million that had been cut from services for the disabled. They passed a 35-cent increase to the minimum wage and authorized a dredging project to expand shipping at Quonset Point.
“It’s been a balanced year and a year of cooperation,” said Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed, D-Newport. “We took actions that will make it easier to do business in Rhode Island and that will save jobs and create new ones.”
The biggest political story of the year in Rhode Island — the collapse of Schilling’s state-backed video game company — may have occurred outside the Statehouse, but it had big implications for lawmakers. Schilling’s 38 Studios filed for bankruptcy this month. The state lured the company to Rhode Island with a $75 million loan guarantee. The state is likely to be on the hook for some of the company’s debts.
Though lawmakers approved the loan guarantee program, they didn’t know what companies might seek to take advantage of it. Still, Rep. Charlene Lima said lawmakers were “shell-shocked” by the company’s collapse and anxious to lie low.
“The public is fed up about this,” said Lima, D-Cranston. “With the elections coming and 38 Studios going on, I think the idea was, ‘let’s get this session done as soon as possible and get out of here.'”
The shaky finances of the state’s municipalities never left the legislative agenda. Gov. Lincoln Chafee proclaimed 2012 as the year of the cities and towns and urged lawmakers to give local leaders greater power to cut pension benefits. Lawmakers balked and much of Chafee’s proposal failed. But lawmakers did advance education funds to East Providence and allow Pawtucket to borrow money to ease cash-flow problems in those cities.
“We have had to keep a close eye on what’s happening locally, and we will continue to do so,” said Sen. Juan Pichardo, D-Providence. “Cities and towns are still struggling in these very difficult times.”
Lawmakers adjourned without approving a tax increase for Woonsocket, however. City leaders had asked for state permission to impose a supplemental tax on property owners to help close a $10 million schools deficit, but the proposal stalled in the House after lawmakers from Woonsocket objected. State Revenue Director Rosemary Booth Gallogly says the failure of the tax increase means a state budget commission overseeing Woonsocket’s finances may have to consider sharp service cuts or city layoffs.
Other proposals fell flat, including legislation that would allow same-sex residents married in other states to divorce in Rhode Island. Supporters argued it was unfair to force gay couples to move back to the state where they were married to divorce. But the bill never got a vote.
Neither did legislation that would have capped interest rates charged by payday lenders. The same bill failed last year under pressure from the payday loan industry, which argued that the restriction would force them to close.
The Assembly also played defense — rejecting Chafee’s municipal pension proposal, which unions said would have broken promises made to public workers. Labor leaders said they were happy not to see a repeat of last fall’s pension session.
Republicans and progressive Democrats were unhappy to see no big changes to the state’s tax structure. Newberry, the Republican leader, said lawmakers missed a chance to refashion taxes to spur economic growth. Some Democrats were displeased that proposals to raise income taxes on the state’s wealthiest residents fizzled.
The state’s slow economic recovery played a factor in helping lawmakers avoid deep budget cuts or big tax hikes. Recent projections indicate the state will take in millions more in revenue next fiscal year. George Nee, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, said that helped lawmakers avoid tough votes.
“Better times make it easier,” he said.
