On Politics

Robert Walsh, executive director of the National Education Association Rhode Island, is pouring cold water on one theory making the rounds -- that the House of Representatives will approve binding arbitration as part of a deal for the state Senate to pass same-sex marriage legislation.

The premise is a little funny on its face, since organized labor is a strong supporter of both issues. Still, stranger things have happened in the annals of Rhode Island politics.

The Rhode Island Statewide Coalition, a taxpayer advocacy group, is renaming itself as RI Taxpayers. Moderate Party founder Ken Block is signing on as president of the group, Donna Perry is continuing as its executive director, Lisa Blais will serve as lobbyist, and Anchor Rising blogger Monique Chartier will edit the daily e-mail newsletter.

Via news release:

The Rhode Island General Assembly is back in session and in less than a month The House has already taken a historic vote to approve same-sex marriage. While it’s unclear what will happen to that controversial measure in the Senate,  RIPR political analyst Scott MacKay says there’s one hot button issue lawmakers ought to stay away from.

Welcome back to my Friday column. As always your tips and thoughts are weclome at idonnis (at) ripr (dot) org. Let's get to it.

The mediation aimed at settling a legal challenge by a series of unions to the state pension overhaul of 2011 is set to continue through the month of February.

Superior Court Judge Sarah Taft-Carter met Friday morning with the two sides in the case, according to court spokesman Craig Berke. "They are going to continue to mediate," Berke said, adding that Taft-Carter is scheduled to get another update on February 28.