Press Releases and News: This is a reverse chronological archive of my press releases, newspaper accounts of events and some of my commentaries on topics of public interest. Stop by periodically to get the latest news.
- Second Fall 2010 Primary Announcement: The second mailer (pdf) should be in local post boxes just after Labor Day, in anticipation of Primary Day, September 14.
- Fall 2010 Primary Announcement: Mike's first mailer (pdf) of the 2010 campaign season is now in the mailbox of Democratic Primary voters of District 35. Mike pledges to continue his dedicated hard work for the people of District 35. The RI Democratic primary is September 14!
- Spring 2010 Newsletter: A newletter about Representative Rice is now online (pdf).
- New House Committee on Oversight appointed, Mar. 5, 2010: The newly-created House Committee on Oversight will begin the work of reviewing the operation and efficiency of various state agencies and offices with the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority.
Created this year by the House of Representatives, the House Committee on Oversight will fill the legislative responsibility of overseeing government operations and spending in a post-Separation of Powers era. (Before the Separation of Powers constitutional amendment was approved by voters, legislators served as members of various boards and commissions.) ...named by Speaker Fox to serve on the committee are...Rep. Michael A. Rice (D-Dist. 35, South Kingstown).... (RI General Assembly press release) - Rep. Rice secures grants for several local organizations, Jan. 26, 2010: Rep. Michael A. Rice (D-Dist. 35, South Kingstown) has announced the presentation of legislative grants to several local organizations.
The grants are the result of financial requests submitted by Representative Rice during the 2009 legislative session and are part of the General Assembly’s current budget. (RI General Assembly press release) - Rep. Rice bill would give cities, towns more flexibility when adhering to state mandates, Jan. 13, 2010: "In the wake of a recent announcement by Governor Carcieri outlining a plan to significantly reduce state aid to cities and towns, Rep. Michael A. Rice (D-Dist. 35, South Kingstown) has introduced legislation that would provide municipalities with greater flexibility when adhering to state mandates.
Under the legislation (2010-H7011), if a budget requires state reimbursements that do not cover the costs of state mandates that are reported by the Department of Revenue, those affected municipalities and school districts may choose whether or not to implement those state mandates, up to 50 percent of the reimbursement shortfall.Representative Rice said it is important to recognize that each city and town has widely different needs and should be allowed to determine their own needs, as opposed to government mandates being forced upon them year after year." (RI General Assembly press release) - Rep. Rice named to House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, commission studying RIDOT, Jan. 12, 2010: "Rep. Michael A. Rice (D-Dist. 35, South Kingstown) was recently appointed to the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and a commission studying the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, announced Speaker of the House William J. Murphy." (RI General Assembly press release)
- Legislators oppose governor's proposed supplemental budget, Jan. 5, 2010: Forty-two members of the House of Representatives today signed a strongly-worded letter to Gov. Donald Carcieri, composed by Rep. Amy G. Rice (D-Dist. 72, Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport), announcing their opposition to his proposed FY 2010 Suplemental Budget, which they are concerned will force an increase in property tax rates around the state. The letter was hand-delivered to the governor’s office Tuesday afternoon.
“Your supplemental budget,” wrote the legislators, “which you proposed without serious consultation with municipal leaders or the General Assembly, depends mostly on slashing $125 million in aid to Rhode Island’s cities and towns. Let there be no doubt about it: This drastic mid-year cut is nothing more than a passing of the buck to our municipalities.” (RI General Assembly press release) - SK Chamber of Commerce member Spirito given legislative citation, Nov. 3, 2009: State Rep. Michael Rice presents a General Assembly citation to outgoing and long time South Kingstown Chamber of Commerce board member Paula Spirito. (Narragansett Times)
News of Mike's work in the General Assembly has found its way across the Pacific Ocean. Aquaculture scientist Vincent C. Encena (right) of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Laboratory in Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines shows enthusiastic support for Mike's work in the Rhode Island House of Representatives.- 4-H Foundation given legislative grant, Oct.4, 2009: The Rhode Island 4-H Clubs Foundation has received a $2,000 legislative grant to continue a number of programs.
Rep. Michael Rice (D-Dist. 35) of South Kingstown presented the check recently to David Burnham, foundation president. Present at the ceremony also was Richard C. Rhodes III, associate dean of the URI College of the Environment and Life Sciences where the 4-H program is based. (4-H News | Country Folks) - Rhode Island Salt Water Anglers Association newsletter, July 2009: "Because of the federal mandate for an angler registry projected to cost $15-$25 per year, the five states in the Northeast without a saltwater fishing license are moving to get
a program in place to save their anglers the higher federal fees. The federal angler registry will begin on January 1, 2010."
With support of the RISAA and the DEM, Representative Rice joined others in introducing a bill that would set an annual RI license fee at $7, lowest in the country. (more, pdf) - South County Independent, July 23, 2009: State name linked to heritage
"In recent weeks, there has been a move in the legislature to submit a question to the voters in November 2010 whether to make a change in the state constitution to remove the words “Providence Plantations” from our state’s official name. A number of well-meaning people around the state have interpreted the word “plantations” as meaning “slaveholding enterprise” in a sense widely understood with regard to pre-Civil War U.S. South and have taken offense. Despite these concerns, our state’s official name, “State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,” has its own rich and distinguished history to consider." (original | html) - Westerly Sun, July 19, 2009: Westerly Hospital Thanks Area Lawmakers
The Chairman of the Board and the CEO of Westerly Hospital write to thank area lawmakers for "their advocacy of The Westerly Hospital and for issues affecting overall Health Care reform in Rhode Island." "The product of many hours of committee meetings and debate, the 2010 state budget reflects discussion and recognition of the quality care and services provided at the Westerly Hospital, South County Hospital, and other community hospitals in Rhode Island." (pdf) - National Public Radio Interview, All Things Considered, June 30, 2009: "Rice tells Robert Siegel that the official name goes back to the earliest days of the Rhode Island Colonies established in the 1630s and 1640s. Each of these small agricultural colonies reported directly to England; there was no connection between them. This type of governance was called a plantation colony." (NPR Interview: "Lawmaker Opposes Rhode Island Name Change" | Interview with Mike and Robert Siegel
- RI House of Representatives Press Release, June 4, 2009: House OKs Rice bill establishing Asian Longhorned Beetle as a nuisance
"The House of Representatives today passed legislation sponsored by Rep. Michael A. Rice (D-Dist. 35, South Kingstown) that would establish the Asian Longhorned Beetle as a nuisance in Rhode Island and make it a crime to bring the species into the state." (Original) - Luncheon Invitation, Wednesday, June 24: A fund-raiser in honor of Rep. Rice, to be held at the South Street Cafe, Providence. 12:30-2:30. (ticket, pdf—$50 donation)
- South County Independent, January 9, 2009: Legislators to focus on budget woes
"Rep. Michael Rice (D-Dist. 35) of South Kingstown, who became the area’s newest representative with his swearing in on Tuesday, said his first concern is the budget. “The Finance Committee is going to be very busy looking at closing the budget in the short term,” Rice said. “That will be fairly substantial. Personally, I will be more focused on making sure the state budget process is sound in the long term." (Original | html) - South County Independent, December 17, 2008: Lally says Assembly leery of local cuts
“Fundamentally, education is the foundation and bedrock of state and local government and it has to be looked at carefully,” he [(Rice)]said. “But we should be looking at the very, very expensive state mandates, and other areas that could be done with more functionality and less cost.” (Original | html) - South County Independent, November 7, 2008: Rice gains seat in House 35
In the end, Rice secured victory with 57 percent of the vote Tuesday night, signaling that Republicans still have an uphill battle in winning seats in South Kingstown.
Rice said he looks forward to working with the local delegation, fighting for more research funding at the University of Rhode Island, tackling problems facing the local fishing industry and working to balance the state budget. (Original) - South County Independent, October 30, 2008: Rice says Haldeman spreading falsehoods about views
The race between Democrat Michael Rice and Republican James Haldeman for the House District 35 seat is heating up in the last week before the election.
Haldeman, 53, a retired Marine and a commercial airline pilot, has been sending letters to constituents in recent days, warning residents that Rice supports a new “funding formula” to increase state aid for education to South Kingstown.
“The General Assembly has bled South Kingstown enough,” Haldeman wrote in the Oct. 18 letter. “My opponent supports a new ‘funding formula’ to bring state aid for education to our town. But our town management has acknowledged that the prevailing ideas in Providence will reduce state aid to South Kingstown by more than $20 million over the next three years. This unfairly puts our town employees on the front line in shouldering the burden of mistakes made by our Assembly. It’s just not right.”
In another letter, Haldeman said that Rice, 53, a professor at the University of Rhode Island, is proposing free tuition for public education programs at URI.
In response, Rice said that Haldeman’s assertions are incorrect.
“I have spoken at length with Dr. Tony Mega and Scott Mueller, both long-term members of the South Kingstown School Committee, and I checked with Rep. John ‘Pat’ Shanley, who is still a member of the House Finance Committee,” Rice said. “None of them has ever heard of a new state funding formula or potential reduction of funds to our town.”
Rice also said he has “never publicly or privately supported free tuition to the university,” as Haldeman suggested. “Such a view would be extremely simplistic and short-sighted given the complexity and gravity of our state budget problems.” More(Original) - South County Independent, October 30, 2008: LETTER: Rice a candidate of integrity
Mike Rice has been a dear friend of mine for the past five years. But exactly what kind of representative would he make for District 35 of South Kingstown? I’ll tell you. Whatever, Dr. Rice does, he does thoroughly, indefatigably and completely. He is a deep-thinking man, yet a man of action. He doesn’t simply spout philosophically about saving our environment; rather, he travels around the world to do it. More(Original) - South County Independent, October 23, 2008: Candidates differ sharply on education
"Republican Jim Haldeman and Democrat Michael Rice, who are vying for the House District 35 seat vacated by John Patrick “Pat” Shanley this election, met for an informal debate at the University of Rhode Island Tuesday to talk about their views on education.
"The candidates, who addressed questions posed by a group of about 10 graduate students, offered starkly different styles and often divergent philosophies on education." (html) - 5-Cent Cigar (URI), October 7, 2008: Professor runs for state legislature, aims to reassess grant matching funds
"Fisheries, animal and veterinary sciences professor Michael A. Rice wants to get more state money allocated to the University of Rhode Island. He is running as a Democrat for the Rhode Island House of Representatives in District 35, which covers South Kingstown."
"In the state legislature, there are alums" of Rhode Island universities, Rice said. "A lot of them are from [Providence College] and Brown University." There aren't many representatives from URI, he added. He would fight to get more state funds for URI." (Original) - Fundraiser, September 18, 2008, University Club, URI: Former RI Governor Bruce Sundlun, Senator Susan V. Sosnowski, RI Senate District 37, Representative John Patrick Shanley, RI House District 35, Mary S. “Polly” Eddy, South Kingstown Council President, and Frank Annunziato, URI-AAUP Executive Director invite you to a Fundraiser for Mike’s Campaign for State Representative in District 35, South Kingstown (MS-Word flier)
- South County Independent, August 28, 2008: Much at Stake in URI Funding.
"It is my belief that adequate state investment in URI’s programs of instruction, research and outreach to the public is no less important now than it was 40 years ago, because global economic and societal challenges are not getting any easier." (MS-Word | html) - South County Independent, July 31, 2008: Energy bill deserves support.
"It is not too late for Rhode Island’s long-term renewable energy contracting standards to be enacted. The R.I. Senate and House of Representatives are contemplating an override of Governor Carcieri’s veto of this critical piece of legislation for a “green economy.” If you feel as I do that long-term renewable energy contracts can be good for our state, even with its 3 percent signing bonus for National Grid, I urge you to contact Senate President Joseph Montalbano or Speaker of the House William Murphy to reconvene the General Assembly to take up the matter." (html) - Press Release, July 6, 2008: Petition Alert!!! Deadline July 31, 2008. Michael Rice supports the petition effort to urge the General Assembly override the July 2, 2008 veto of Governor Donald Carcieri of House Bill H-7916aa and Senate Bill S-2849B that would boost all forms of alternative energy generation and distribution in our state. This is critical as fossil fuel prices skyrocket and Rhode Islanders become more dependent upon foreign sources of fossil fuels. To take part in the petition, please download the petition, sign it and return it to either of the email addresses indicated. (MS-Word version)
- Press Release, July 4, 2008: Invitation to July 19 Fund Raiser (MSWord)
- South County Independent, June 27, 2008: Shanley opts to step aside
"After four terms in the House of Representatives, state Rep. John Patrick "Pat" Shanley (D-Dist. 35) has decided to retire.
"Shanley, 64, said in a press release that after eight years representing South Kingstown in the House, six years of which were spent on the powerful House Finance Committee, he is ready to retire from public service and spend time with his family." (html) - Press Release, June 24, 2008: Rice to Run for House District 35 (html) | (MSWord)
- Providence Journal Bulletin, November 20, 2006 Pollution cost the Navy $1.4 million.
"In the last couple of weeks, one year after final legal settlement, $1.4 million in federal funds flowed into the coffers of the State of Rhode Island in a little-publicized case in which the State of Rhode Island brought suit against the U.S. Navy for several decades of dumping of toxic wastes into a landfill near Allen Harbor in the former naval base at Quonset Point." ( html | MS-Word ) - South County Independent, October 12, 2006 URI work helped put ‘a chicken in every pot.'
"The ability to control poultry coccidiosis was one of the most important developments leading to the ability of farmers to increase the size of their flocks and make poultry much cheaper for the consuming public." ( html | MS-Word ) - South County Independent, October 30, 2003 Fish kills of a century ago.
"With last summer’s fish and shellfish kills in Greenwich Bay, it is instructive to look at the state’s response to similar events in the past." ( html | MS-Word ) - Providence Journal Bulletin, September 28, 2003: Land Grant History: URI’s pushing the economy through the years.
"Today, URI’s Land Grant and Sea Grant Programs are well poised to provide the academic linkages necessary for developing research and knowledge-based economic development opportunities for Rhode Islanders." (html | MS-Word ) - South County Independent, May 23, 2002: Toxic rules may be over the limit.
"Most Rhode Islanders are now proud of the fact that we have some of the most stringent toxic waste handling and disposal standards and regulations in the nation. But, is it possible that overly ambitious toxic waste regulations can in fact be counter-productive?'"(html) | (MSWord) - Providence Journal Bulletin, January 21, 2001: The Federal Squeeze on the Lobster Industry.
"If the federal closure of Rhode Island’s lobster fishery occurred, it would have stricken a severe economic blow to an already weakened fishing industry because the lobster fishery is one of our largest single fisheries in terms of overall landings and sales, in excess of $40 million annually" ( html | MS-Word )