Politics

By IAN DONNIS

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – House Speaker Gordon Fox is shaking up his staff prior to the start of the legislative session.

Fox is firing about 10 State House staffers as part of what his office calls a routine change in administration.

Fox spokesman Larry Berman says Fox didn't have a good chance to make the changes before because he was elected as Speaker last February, in mid-session.

Berman calls the changes part of an ongoing reorganization involving a variety of positions.

By IAN DONNIS

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Governor-elect Lincoln Chafee says closing an almost 300 million dollar deficit for the next fiscal year will require significant cuts to state government.

Rhode Island faces a deep deficit for the fiscal year starting next July first due to the loss of federal stimulus money. Chafee says closing that gap will require reductions in spending by many state departments.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Rhode Island governor-elect Lincoln Chafee says he wants to keep Rosemary Booth Gallogly as head of the Department of Revenue.

Gallogly is currently the acting director at the department, a post she was appointed to by outgoing Republican Gov. Don Carcieri in March. She is also the head of the Department of Administration, but Chafee has nominated former Democratic Lt. Gov. Richard Licht for that post.

By IAN DONNIS

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Governor-elect Lincoln Chafee has added three members to his transition team.

Margaret Holland McDuff is the CEO of Family Service of Rhode Island, John Simmons is executive director of the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, Lawyer Claire Richards has previously served as special counsel to Governor Carcieri, among other positions.

Chafee says the trio brings experience, energy and knowledge to his transition.