hard deadlines

Sen. Chuck Levesque and Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts listen to Tockwotton director Kevin McKay. State house press photo.

Portsmouth state senator Chuck Levesque joined with Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts at the Tockwotton Home in Providence today to celebrate the passage of Nursing Home Culture Change legislation. The bill, S2289A, "aims to shift the culture of Rhode Island nursing facilities to more home-like, resident-driven settings," according to a state house release.

"Today, we celebrate a novel approach to changing the culture of nursing homes in Rhode Island," Levesque said in prepared remarks. "It is an approach that balances disparate demands of long term care. It is a transformative model that shifts from institutional settings to settings that more truly reflect what they are: an individual’s home."

The law, which went into effect July 1, "will help transform and improve the care of Rhode Island's elders without harming the existing nursing industry," said Levesque, who praised the Tockwotton Home where the event was held. "Facilities like Tockwottton, as well as others across the state – Saint Clare Home in Newport and Elmhurst Extended Care in Providence, for example – are leading the way in this transformative new standard of care delivered in settings that promote quality of life and inspire well being for elders."

Levesque sponsored the legislation in the Senate; the House version was sponsored by Joseph McNamara (D-Cranston, Warwick). The two served as co-chairs of the Joint Commission on Nursing Home Culture Change. Levesque also acknowledged the continuing efforts of Roberts, who chairs the Long Term Care Coordinating Council.

Editorial note: Had to work today or I would have covered this in person — this is from a couple of press releases.

Candidate for Treasurer Gina Raimondo and policy director Macky McCleary

Democratic candidate for RI General Treasurer Gina Raimondo opened her campaign headquarters at 1277 Jefferson Blvd. in Warwick this afternoon, and many of the state's top politicos were on hand to mark the occasion. I heard that I'd just missed Lt. Gov Elizabeth Roberts, and while I was there, saw Raimondo talking with gubernatorial candidate Frank Caprio and Rep. Jim Langevin.

Had a chance to meet and chat briefly with Raimondo. She was very interested in hearing the concerns of Portsmouth and the East Bay, and mentioned that she's trying to get to every city and town in the state to meet and talk with people.

I spoke with her policy director, Macky McClearly for about half an hour, and we had a great discussion of the challenges facing Portsmouth and our interactions with the state. Not just making conversation, this is a very sharp guy who clearly understands both the technical and practical issues, knows what's important, and is deeply committed to having impact.

Came away from the event even more convinced that Raimondo has the right stuff — and the right people around her — to do the job as Treasurer. Talked with her communications director about doing an interview, and I think you'll be as impressed with her as I was.

Learn more at GinaRaimondo.com.

Full disclosure:I was an early supporter of Tom Sgouros, but he dropped out and threw his support to Raimondo, and I now understand why.

Last week, the RI state legislature "balanced" our budget with wishful thinking and sleight-of-hand, including a raid on the RI Renewable Energy Fund, a supposedly restricted account which is collected from ratepayers on their electric bills and is explicitly earmarked for conservation programs and alternative energy projects.

Karina Lutz, deputy director of People's Power and Light explained in a statement that the Renewable Energy Fund enables the RI Economic Development Corporation to provide grants to subsidize renewable energy projects including the Ocean SAMP offshore wind planning process, municipal wind turbines, and solar energy projects.

Said Lutz, "The Renewable Energy Fund’s expenditures in the form of grants and loans leverage several times their amount in investment in the critical green jobs sector, which is barely getting a foothold in Rhode Island compared to many other states throughout the country. This sector creates local jobs at a time when they are most needed."

“We understand that the state budget is in crisis,” said Lutz. “But this is an act of desperation equivalent to eating your seed corn.”

Rep. David Segal will be introducing an amendment during the budget process tomorrow which would restore funding, and I hope you'll consider joining me in calling on our delegation to support it. We like wind power in Portsmouth. Feel free to copy, remix, and reuse the following e-mail I just sent:

To: amy@amyricelaw.com, rep-jay70@cox.net, rep-loughlin@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-gallison@rilin.state.ri.us
Subject: Please don't raid renewable energy
Date: 06/02/2010 02:36:42 PM

Dear Reps. Rice, Edwards, Gallison, Loughlin, and Sen. Levesque:
I know the State, and the general assembly, is in a tough spot with the
budget, but I urge you to do anything possible to avoid raiding the
Renewable Energy Fund. Not only do I feel this is this a redirection of
money in a manner inconsistent with ratepayers' expectations, but it
risks damaging the prospects for renewable energy at this critical time
in its infancy.

I urge you to support the amendment by Rep. Segal to restore funding to
the Renewable Energy Fund.

Understand that these are difficult decisions, and I appreciate your
consideration.

Best Regards.
--John G. McDaid

Sen. Chuck Levesque accepts award from Dr. David Gifford (GA press photo)

Portsmouth state Sen. Chuck Levesque received the James E. Carney Award from the RI Dept. of Health for his work in passing legislation to expand HIV testing in the state, according to a release from the general assembly. Levesque and Rep. Eileen Naughton who sponsored the legislation were thanked by Health Dept. Director David Gifford, MD, MPH for their work.

“Effective public policy is a cornerstone of public health,” said Gifford. “We are grateful for the hard work of Representative Naughton and Senator Levesque as they have worked to assure that HIV/AIDS statutes are up to date and are reflective of the current medical and social status of those affected by these diseases. Their dedication helps guide the work of our programs, medical community, and community-based organizations.”

The bill sponsored by Levesque and Naughton makes HIV tests a routine part of testing offered to Rhode Islanders and relaxes a previous rule requiring special written consent. Testing can now be carried out with spoken consent, aligning it with other tests in the state, as well as federal Center for Disease Control (CDC) standards.

The change will result in increased testing in emergency rooms, and was the result of a joint commission, co-chaired by the two legislators, aimed at crafting legislation to prevent the transmission of HIV and AIDS.

Editorial note: Written from general assembly press release.

The Rhode Island Communities for Addiction Recovery Efforts (RICARES) named Portsmouth Sen. Chuck Levesque as their "State Senator of the Year" today, according to a general assembly press release. RICARES also honored Rep Scott Slater as legislator, and Dale Klatzker as advocate of the year during their 11th annual Legislative Day program.

Ian Knowles, RICARES director, and Leslie Miller, board member, presented the award to Sen. Levesque and the others during a state house ceremony, recognizing, "the support they have shown in the legislature for RICARES and their consistent, compassionate work on the issues of addiction and recovery."

RICARES is a grass-roots alliance dedicated to developing a voice for and decreasing stigmas about those in alcohol and or drug dependency recovery. The group is affiliated with the New England Alliance for Addiction Recovery and the Drug and Alcohol Association of RI.

Editorial note: Written from a general assembly press release.

RI Dept. of Education (RIDE) commissioner Deborah Gist released a video today urging districts, superintendents, and unions to sign on to the Race To The Top (RTTT) application — watch it on UStream. With a Friday deadline approaching for signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU), Gist mentions both the carrot ($75M in Federal funds) and the stick for districts that don't sign on: "[policies like revised educator evaluations] don't go away...but this ensures a place at the table" while they're being worked out.

NetRoots Nation, a major conference of progressive activists, was scheduled to come to Providence in 2011, but now that is threatened by ongoing labor relations issues at the Westin Hotel, GoLocalProv is reporting. You should go read the story, but here's the nut: "The state stands to lose millions of dollars in economic activity, a potential big boost for Rhode Island's creative economy and the attention of the nation's premiere Internet entrepreneurs."

Netroots Nation is huge, whether you're considering the progressive networking opportunities or just the visitor revenue. I sure hope this provides some additional leverage to get issues resolved, because I would LOVE to go to this, but I ain't flying to Las Vegas.

Additional coverage at RI Future.

Support the Westin boycott on their Facebook page.