STATE HOUSE – Rep. David A. Caprio (D-Dist. 34, Narragansett, South Kingstown) has been named the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary for the remainder of the 2010 legislative session.
The appointment was announced today by newly-elected Speaker of the House Gordon D. Fox.
Representative Caprio, who has previously served as a member of the Committees on Corporations, Labor and Judiciary during his tenure in the House, is currently a member of the House Committee on Finance.
Elected to the House in December, 1999, Representative Caprio is an attorney with the Caprio & Caprio Law Firm.
Representative Caprio, as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, is succeeding Rep. Donald J. Lally Jr., who was elected Deputy Majority Whip of the House.
The Committee on Judiciary is one of the most active permanent committees of the House. The committee considers all legislation and matters which affect the state’s penal code, judiciary system, ethics, open meetings, access to public records and election laws in the state.
Representative David Caprio (District 34 – Narragansett, South Kingstown) recently held his annual family summer cookout for his friends, family, and supporters.
Several hundred people attended and enjoyed a fun day of swimming, barbeque, face painting, and a healthy dose of bright South County sun. “It was a perfect day for the cook out. We were fortunate that Hurricane Bill decided to stay out to sea.”
Representative Caprio accepted donations to benefit the Jonnycake Center. Many of his guests answered the call and donated over $2,000. The Jonnycake Center has confirmed that this will enable them to purchase over 20,000 pounds of food for the emergency food pantry.
“We are aware that our neighbors need help year around and the Jonnycake Center is dedicated to serve our community. My guests were extremely generous and were happy to help.”
In December, 2008, Representative Caprio’s guests at his Holiday Open House also donated to the Jonnycake Center.
Rep. David Caprio, D-Narragansett, a member of the House Finance Subcommittee on Transportation, said the tax increase was necessary since the state must maintain bus service that allows people to get to work. Since the governor submitted his original budget plan, the state lost another $200 million.
“I think it would be irresponsible to force RIPTA to cut those services as a time when people are having substantial hardships without having to worry about whether their bus is running or not,” Caprio said. “We were forced to explore options we were trying to avoid.”
Representative David Caprio, District 34, Narragansett, South Kingstown, expressed serious concerns about a proposed school funding formula during a House Finance Committee meeting Wednesday. The legislation, H5978, sponsored by Representative Edith Ajello (D – Providence) creates a permanent funding formula for the State’s 34 school districts.
A formula that entirely eliminates funding for eight school districts is unfair and inequitable on its face,” said Caprio. Both Narragansett and South Kingstown would lose all State aid under the proposed formula. “Further, a total of 22 school districts would get less school aid.”
The formula punishes those districts that have been able to keep their taxes low, negotiate hard contracts, and otherwise operate efficient municipal governments,” said Caprio.
There was testimony that the formula takes into consideration four primary factors: number of students, property tax capacity, student need, and enrollment need.
Representative Caprio suggested that if a community’s funding is eliminated, so should its requirement to follow the costly, unfunded mandates placed upon them by the State. “It’s only fair,” said Caprio, “if the State is not going to provide any funding, then don’t tell us what to do.”
Representative David Caprio has introduced legislation that would protect the Port of Galilee as well as other Ports throughout the State of Rhode Island.
Here are excerpts from the Providence Journal article:
Legislation proposed by Rep. David Caprio, D-Narragansett, would guarantee that “working waterfronts” — which it defines as any property along a navigable body of water — will be used only by “water dependent” industries — those that require direct access to waterways.
Caprio said he filed the bill to ensure that his hometown port of Galilee remains a working fishing port.
Galilee, while home to two state beaches, a number of restaurants, bars and motels and a departure point for the Block Island ferry, remains one of the busiest fishing centers on the East Coast, Caprio said.
“It is a multifaceted port, but at the cornerstone is the fishing industry,” he said.
cookout for his friends, family, and supporters.