On Politics

As the wait continues for the Senate Judiciary Committee to take up a same-sex marriage bill, supporters and opponents are continuing grassroots campaigns trumpeting their point of view. One of their points of contention is whether there's a political cost for lawmakers  for lawmakers who vote in support of same-sex marriage.

The debate over tax policy is heating up as the House Finance Committee gets set to hear testimony Wednesday on Governor Lincoln Chafee's proposed cut to the corporate tax.

Highlights:

Not to brag or anything, but we must point out that our `On Politics’ blog has made the Washington Post’s annual list of best state-based political blogs in the United States. This is the second straight year `On Politics’ has been in such august company with blogs from all 50 states. We also should note that our friendly competition, Nesi’s Notes, the work of intrepid WPRI_TV blogger Ted Nesi, was the other Rhode Island blog to make the coveted list.  On Politics is co-authored by Ian Donnis, RIPR political reporter, and Scott MacKay, RIPR political analyst.

Len Levin, a retired Providence Journal editor known for his meticulous work with reporters’ copy and a deep knowledge of all things Rhode Island, has been chosen as the Rhode Island Supreme Court’s new grammarian.

Levin, an extraordinarily literate and well-read person, replaces the late Joel Sekeres, also a retired ProJo editor and reporter who died recently. Levin will assume responsibility for parsing high court decisions for grammar errors.

The merged state board that will oversee K through 12 and higher education is set to hold its first meeting at 5 pm next Monday, March 11, at the Warwick campus of the Community College of Rhode Island.

The combined board is expected to take us issues lingering since the dissolution of two separate state education boards last December. The state Senate has already confirmed 4 of 11 members for the merged board; the remaining seven are due to be confirmed Tuesday afternoon.