The 2012 General Assembly is quickly coming to a close, with the last day of session expected to be June 12. While all eyes are on the budget, there are a number of bills that we hope the General Assembly will still be able to pay attention to before the session is over. 

1) Reproductive Rights: While it does not appear that any of the most harmful assaults on women's rights will come to fruition this session, there are still some positive initiatives that we hope will. Representative Cimini's bill to expand family planning services to low income women (H7710) which was sponsored on the Senate side by Senator Nesselbush (S2553) still has a chance of making it through the budget process, but our Senators and Representatives still need to hear from us. The message? It's good for women, and will save the state a lot of money. For more details, see this Guttmacher report. Call your elected officials today! To look them up, click here. And, while you are at it, ask them to end the practice of gender discrimination in health insurance (H7151/S2208). For more background on this issue, click here.

1) Poverty/Homelessness: Many low income women and their families are struggling with issues of poverty and homelessness in Rhode Island. That's why RI NOW continues to advocate for a platform of bills, including the Homeless Bill of Rights, Just Cause/Right to Rent, and Payday lending reform. Click here to learn more and take action to help advance these important bills before the end of this session!

2) Violence Against Women: RI NOW has been advocating for a bill that would make strangling another person a felony assault, and, when committed by a family or household member against another, a domestic violence crime. This legislation is essential if we are to stop the escalation of violence that can lead to murder. The bill has passed out of the Senate Judiciary committee, but appears stuck in the House Judiciary Committee. Call House Speaker Gordon Fox at 222-2447 and Majority Leader Nicholas Mattiello at 461-5800, and the House Judiciary committee members today. Urge them to move H7242 forward!

June

4 3,000 progressives heading for Providence 'Netroots Nation' convention

4 Cranston woman wins Miss USA Pageant

3 Progressives may still push for tax equity in budget

2 Letter to the Editor: Why we oppose ultrasound bill

1 Paula Hodges: Ultrasound bill is bad medicine

May

30 Planned Parenthood Ads to Target Romney

30 Vigil supports Catholic women's group

22 RI needs to close its 'middle-skills' gap

21 The Bishop Has No Clothes

20 Tax Debate: Back to Future for Business Community

17 Sources: Christy Ferguson to run RI health insurance exchange

16 'Two Handfuls' of Senators Block Marriage Equality

16 Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts: RI forging ahead with overhaul

15 ProJo Editorial: Step forward for gay rights

15 RI recognizes gay marriages, Executive order assures benefits to same-sex couples

14 Deb Tevyaw, Bat Baker Never Got to Enjoy Equality

11 Carcieri's welfare reform comes under fire

10 Reed Now Supports Marriage Equality, Too

10 Is the Rhode Island Senate warming up to same-sex marriage?

3 Foes of Marriage Equality Fear God, Communists