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Rhode Island House Upholds Journal After Objection Over Announcements
Summary
The Rhode Island House overruled a GOP objection that condolences entered under announcements were a partisan stunt and upheld the journal in a 51-9 machine vote, leaving the previous day's minutes unchanged.
The Rhode Island House of Representatives on Jan. 29 upheld the Speaker's ruling and kept the previous legislative day's journal unchanged after a Republican leader objected to how condolences were recorded.
Leader Chibaneo objected to acceptance of the House journal, saying the announcements section contained condolences “entered under announcements in a manner that departs from the long standing spirit and traditions honored by this body” and calling the inclusion ‘‘nothing but a political stunt that diminishes the reputation of the institution.’’ The Speaker overruled the objection and offered a machine vote on whether to uphold the chair's ruling.
The electronic tally recorded 51 votes to uphold the ruling and 9 opposed. The Speaker announced, “The ruling of the chair is upheld. The journal stands as is.”
Supporters of upholding the journal argued the minutes should reflect what actually occurred on the floor, including adjournments in memory of departed residents; those opposed said memorials recorded under announcements risked politicizing the journal and setting a precedent for more controversial entries. No amendment to the journal was adopted.
After the vote the Speaker asked that matters on the clerk’s test be transmitted to the governor, the senate and the secretary of state, and the House proceeded to other routine business.
The chamber did not change the text of the journal; the ruling stands unless further procedural action is taken at a later date.
