UPTICK IN HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS.
(MM)
GENERAL ASSEMBLY LAWMAKERS GOT
BACK TO WORK TODAY--
BUT NOT AT THE STATE HOUSE.
THE HOUSE MET AT THE VETS
AND THE SENATE IS MEETING AT
RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE.
12 NEWS REPORTER BRANDON TRUITT
IS LIVE IN PROVIDENCE---
WITH THE DETAILS ON HOW COVID
19--
HAS HAD A MAJOR IMPACT--
ON TODAY'S SESSION--
BRANDON?
THIS OPENING SESSION PROVED TO
BE AS UNIQUE AS ANY.
BOTH CHAMBERS WORKING OUTSIDE
THE WALLS OF THE STATEHOUSE.
BUT VOTES WERE CASTS TODAY.
A NEW SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE FOR
THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY EIGHT
YEARS.
"I offer a most sincere thank
you."
AND WITH THAT -- THERE'S A NEW
SPEAKER IN TOWN.
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPH SHEKARCHI
-- VOTED TO THE HOUSE's HIGHEST
POSITION -- BY HIS FELLOW
MEMBERS TUESDAY.
"i pledge to work everyday with
member driven - inclusive house
of representatives."
IT WAS JUST ONE OF THE ITEMS OF
BUSINESS DURING THE SESSION.
REPRESENTATIVES WERE REQUIRED TO
WEAR MASKS -- SIT IN ASSIGNED
SEATS -- AND VOTE ELECTRONICALLY
USING TABLETS.
EACH MEMBER --INCLUDING NEW ONES
-- STOOD TO TAKE THE OATH.
BUT NOT EVERYONE WAS THERE.
"it's a little weird, everything
in 2020 you just learn to roll
with it."
REPRESENTATIVE ELECT BARBARA ANN
FENTON-FUNG IS IN QUARATINE.
HER HUSBAND -- FORMER CRANSTON
MAYOR ALLEN FUNG TESTED POSITIVE
FOR THE VIRUS.
FENTON-FUNG WAS POSITIVE IN
APRIL -- AND NOW HAS A DOSE OF
THE VACCINE.
"while we don't think I could
possibly carry it no one is
going to take that risk. And
it's a silly risk to take
anyway."
FENTON-FUNG WILL BE SWORN-IN AT
A LATER DATE.
PENDING ANOTHER NEGATIVE TEST
FRIDAY -- IT COULD BE AS SOON AS
NEXT WEEK.
AS FOR THE WORK A HAND --
THERE'S A LOT.
A BUDGET IN TERMOIL AND
QUESTIONS OVER WHAT IT WILL TAKE
TO BALANCE IT.
LAWMAKERS BACK TO WORK -- AFTER
SOME ARGUE IT SHOULD'VE HAPPENED
SOONER.
BY THE WAY THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLIES WEBSITE HAS ALREADY
BEEN UPDATED WITH SHEKARCHI AS
SPEAKER.
SOME THINGS MOVE QUICKLY ON
SMITH HILL.
THE SENATE IS CURRENTLY
GATHERING AT RHODE ISLAND
COLLEGE.
SENATE PRESIDENT DOMINICK
RUGGERIO EXPECTED TO KEEP IS
SEAT THERE.
TRUITT 12 NEWS.
WE'LL BRING YOU AN UPDATE AS
SOON AS WE LEARN IT.
(HE)
NOW AT SIX --- RHODE ISLAND'S
YEAR, UNDER THE SHADOW OF
COVID-19.
I'M SHANNON HEGY.
(MM)
AND I'M MIKE MONTECALVO.
NOT ONLY ARE BOTH CHAMBERS
CONVENING AT SEPARATE SITES ---
THE VIRUS HAS FORCED SOME
LAWMAKERS TO STAY HOME ---
INCLUDING INCOMING---- DISTRICT
15 REPRESENTATIVE BARABARA ANN
FENTON FUNG, AND STATE SENATOR
FRANK CICCONE --- WHO WE LEARNED
TESTED POSITIVE THIS MORNING.
12 NEWS REPORTER BRANDON TRUITT
JOINS US LIVE FROM PROVIDENCE,
WITH AN UPDATE ON THE NEW
SESSION.
ALTHOUGH BOTH CHAMBERS OF THE
LEGISLATURE ARE BACK IN ACTION.
NEITHER ARE MEETING IN THE STATE
HOUSE.
THE HOUSE FINISHING UP HERE AT
THE VETS.
THE SENATE IS GATHERING NOW AT
RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE.
ALL IN AN EFFORT TO WORK AROUND
THE PANDEMIC.
AN OPENING SESSION UNLIKE ANY
OTHER.
MASKED LAWMAKERS STRICTLY
DISTANCED - GATHERING OUTSIDE
THE WALLS OF THE STATE HOUSE.
IT WAS A CHANGING OF THE GUARD
FOR HOUSE LEADERSHIP.
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPH SHEKARCHI
-- SWORN-IN AS SPEAKER OF THE
HOUSE.
THE FIRST TIME SOMEONE NEW HAS
TAKEN THE ROLE IN NEARLY EIGHT
YEARS.
SHEKARCHI WAS VOTED IN BY HIS
FELLOW MEMBERS --
AFTER NOW *FORMER SPEAKER
NICHOLAS MATTIELLO -- LOST
RE-ELECTION TO BARBARA ANN
FENTON-FUNG.
"it's a little weird. Everything
with it."
REPRESENTATIVE ELECT FENTON-FUNG
SPEAKING TO 12 NEW.
AFTER HER HUSBAND -- FORMER
CRANSTON MAYOR ALLAN FUNG TESTED
POSTIVE FOR COVID-19.
HE'S SAID TO HAVE MILD SYMPTOMS.
FENTON-FUNG SAYS SHE TESTED
NEGATIVE MONDAY.
SHE HAD THE VIRUS IN APRIL AND
HAS RECEIVED A FIRST DOSE OF
VACCINE.
BUT AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HOUSE
LEADERSHIP.
SHE'S IN QUARATINE -- UNABLE TO
BE SWORN-IN TUESDAY.
"you put in a lot of work in the
campaign, are you bummed? YEA I
THINK MY PARENTS ARE MORE THAN
ANYTHING."
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK AHEAD.
A BUDGET IN PARIL - WITH
CONCERNS ON WHAT IT'LL TAKE TO
BALANCE IT.
RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE.
SENATE PRESIDENT DOMINICK
RUGGERIO WILL RETAIN HIS
LEADERSHIP ROLE.