NEWS
Recent press about Patricia
August 17, 2017
House Minority Leader Morgan Says “Polling Looks Good” for RI Gubernatorial Run
GoLocalProv
August 07, 2017
Rep. Patricia Morgan joins the Tara Granahan Show to update her findings and the process she had to go through to find information on the Havas make it yours campaign.
WPRO News Talk 630 AM
Tara Granahan Show
July 28, 2017
Does Rhode Island Government Work in 2017?
GoLocalProv
The state budget has yet to be passed, and it is nearly a month into the new fiscal year. The Speaker of the House shut down not just the budget process, but also the balance of entire legislative proceedings.
July 21, 2017
TGIF: 22 Things To Know About Rhode Island Politics & Media
RI NPR
3. A few eyebrows were raised when TGIF last year (#3) floated the idea of a gubernatorial run by state Rep. Patricia Morgan of West Warwick, now the Republican leader in the Rhode Island House. Yet Morgan is increasingly seen as a potential factor on the GOP side of the race, in part due to her message of advocating for taxpayers, trying to cut state spending, and looking for government boondoggles.
July 18, 2017
Rep. Patricia Morgan talks with Tara about her fight to get documents released from the Governor's office
WPRO News Talk 630 AM
Tara Granahan Show
July 18, 2017
Raimondo Transparency: Ain’t Your Business
The Ocean State Current
Rhode Island House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan (R, Coventry, Warwick, West Warwick) asked the administration of Democrat Governor Gina Raimondo for some information about a public relations firm’s activities placing stories about Rhode Island in out-of-town publications at taxpayer expense.
July 17, 2017
Possible GOP challenger to governor locked in records fight
Providence Journal
House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan — a potential GOP candidate for governor — is locked in a public records fight with the Raimondo administration over the one-year $691,000 public-relations contract the state’s Commerce Corporation gave Havas PR North America to promote Rhode Island in out-of-town publications and an earlier 15-month tourism contract.
July 15, 2017
Nesi’s Notes: July 15
WPRI
Will Patricia Morgan join the 2018 race for Rhode Island governor? “It’s clear to me that regardless of party, Rhode Islanders want a government that is efficient, effective and, by staying as small as possible, helps each of us live better, more financially secure lives,” the House GOP leader declared in a testing-the-waters email this week.
July 13, 2017
GOP’s Morgan Exploring Run for Rhode Island Governor
GoLocalProv
Rhode Island House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan is exploring a run for Governor in 2018.
Republican Morgan, who was first elected in District 26 (Coventry, Warwick, West Warwick) in 2010, became Minority Leader last November.
July 13, 2017
9 Toughest Women in Rhode Island - 2017
GoLocalProv
From the Rhode Island Convention Center to the DOT -- and a few others - many have felt the wrath of House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan. She is tough, aggressive and unrelenting.
July 01, 2017
Nesi’s Notes: July 1
WPRI
"The Republicans are the opposition. The Senate is the enemy.” The late U.S. House Speaker Tip O’Neill’s famous quip is a window into the mindset that took hold in both General Assembly chambers Friday afternoon after Speaker Mattiello’s stunning announcement that the House was calling it quits.
July 11, 2017
Financial Adviser Sued Over 38 Studios Still Has Many Government Clients
NPR
Remember Rhode Island’s disastrous deal with former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling? The state invested $75 million of taxpayer dollars in Schilling’s video game company 38 Studios and lost it all before a lawsuit clawed back most of the money.
July 01, 2017
GOP, NRA gain unexpected ground when R.I. lawmakers end session in standoff
Providence Journal
Who benefits when Rhode Island’s ruling Democrats squabble?
After the abrupt — and politically stunning — Friday-night halt to the 2017 legislative session, the clear winners were the NRA and the vastly outnumbered Republicans in the State House.
June 29, 2017
RI House OKs perpetual contracts for municipal unions; bill moves to Senate
WPRI
The Rhode Island House of Representatives voted Thursday to keep municipal union contracts in force indefinitely if a new contract has not been reached, despite protests from mayors who said it will raise costs for taxpayers.
June 28, 2017
State budget blues: Again the citizens lose
Cranston Herald
Once again another legislative season is edging to a close, and once again the nothing of substance has been accomplished. No change in government operating paradigms was instituted, and no attempt at lowering the state’s outstanding debt was discussed. Nevertheless, the legacy of debt continues to rise to levels bordering on obscene.
June 28, 2017
Patricia Morgan: R.I. budget filled with crony deals and backdoor tax increases
Providence Journal
People used to flock to Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts. They came to get a good job and a good education, and to raise a family. Times have changed, and our states now have other things in common: higher taxes, fewer good jobs and people leaving.
June 27, 2017
State Lawmakers Begin Voting Frenzy as Session Ends
US News & World Report
Rhode Island state lawmakers are working to pass dozens of bills in the final days before they adjourn for the year. The legislation includes union-backed measures to extend public employee labor contract agreements after they've expired, and to allow firefighters and police officers to get disability pensions if they have an illness.
June 27, 2017
PawSox stadium legislation introduced, will be vetted this fall
WPRI
Rhode Island leaders signaled Tuesday they plan to take up the proposal for a new, $83-million Pawtucket Red Sox stadium later this year, after Gov. Gina Raimondo announced her support for a revised version of the plan.
June 24, 2017
Nesi’s Notes: June 24
WPRI
As Ian Donnis pointed out during Thursday night’s budget debate, quite a few of GOP Leader Patricia Morgan’s remarks sounded like a preview of the case she’ll make against Governor Raimondo if she challenges her in 2018.
June 23, 2017
House Approves Controversial RI Budget Despite Progressives, Enviro, and Taxpayer Group Opposition
GoLocalProv
Democrats in the House voted 64 to the GOP’s 11 on Thursday night to approve a $9.2 billion 2018 Rhode Island state budget.
June 23, 2017
TGIF: 14 Things To Know About Rhode Island Politics & Media
RI NPR
The budget awaits Senate approval, and the General Assembly could end its 2018 session in the week ahead.
June 22, 2017
House votes to raise Rhode Island’s minimum wage
Providence Journal
The party-line vote was 63-10, and would raise the state’s $9.60 an hour rate to $10.10 on Jan. 1, and to $10.50 on Jan. 1, 2019.
June 22, 2017
Democrats beat back GOP plan for R.I. inspector general
Providence Journal
House Democrats have beaten back a GOP attempt to divert $4 million in so-called “911 fees” to create an office of Inspector General.
June 22, 2017
RI House OKs 9.2B Budget With Free Tuition, Car Tax Cut
US News & World Report
The Rhode Island House of Representatives voted to cut the state's hated car taxes and approved a pilot program to provide tuition-free community college, as it passed a $9.2 billion tax-and-spending plan on Thursday night.
June 22, 2017
House Minority Leader argues ongoing “arrogance” in RI Senate
Dan York - State of Mind
House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan (R) joined Dan to discuss:
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Senate Republicans’ new health care bill introduction
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FY’17 RI budget
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Truck toll opposition
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Arrogance in session in the RI Senate
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A bid for Governor
June 22, 2017
Rhode Island House Approves Free College Tuition Pilot
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
The Rhode Island House of Representatives has approved a pilot program to provide tuition-free community college to in-state students.
June 21, 2017
Expanding gun restrictions in domestic abuse cases advances in R.I.
Providence Journal
A bill to disarm domestic abusers won the approval of the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday night, with victims’ advocates cheering a victory they have sought for decades.
June 19, 2017
RI House panel cancels votes on expanding disability pension criteria
Providence Journal
The House Labor Committee has canceled votes on two bills that would expand the legal grounds for public-safety officers to receive disability pensions, suggesting an uncertain outlook for the proposals.
June 16, 2017
$9.2B state budget heads to House next week
WPRI
The current version of this year’s $9.2 billion state budget is heading to the House Thursday, with millions of dollars already trimmed from Gov. Gina Raimondo’s earlier budget.
June 14, 2017
Rep. Patricia Morgan - Budget Priorities
WPRO News Talk 630 AM
Tara Granahan
June 14, 2017
Repairing, Reforming, and Eliminating Bad State Policies: Morgan on GOP Budget Priorities
GoLocalProv
Freezing and eliminating the tangible personal property tax, disability pension reform, providing an exemption to the prevailing wage for school repair, and creating an Office of an Independent Inspector General are the four major budget priorities announced by the House GOP on Tuesday.
June 13, 2017
Patricia Morgan: Use R.I. budget to solve problems
Providence Journal
The Rhode Island General Assembly has been working to draft a budget for the coming year. Members have spent countless hours hearing testimony, as we sift through competing priorities. Our work is made even more difficult because of a large $134 million deficit. The revenue shortfall is a warning sign that Rhode Island’s economy is still struggling.
June 13, 2017
GOP Lawmakers Outline Four Budget Priorities
RI NPR
Republican lawmakers on Tuesday outlined four budget priorities that they said will put the state on a path to a better economy.
June 13, 2017
John takes your calls and talks local politics. Rep. Patricia Morgan calls into the show.
WADK 1540 AM
John DePetro Show
June 13, 2017
R.I. GOP calls for property-tax freeze, other measures
Providence Journal
Rhode Island’s outnumbered House Republicans held a press conference Tuesday to stake out their ground in the state’s $9 billion budget debate.
June 12, 2017
Power Grab in Coventry is Same Aggression that Led to Gaspee Burning
GoLocalProv
There is a travesty happening in Coventry that, if allowed to continue, will set a precedent that will be used against you and your community… soon. The battle is over who controls the language of a community’s Charter. Is it the people of the community using democratically conducted discussion and a official voting process or the Speaker of the House and municipal unions using force and demagoguery?
June 09, 2017
Who's Hot & Who's Not
GoLocalProv
Let's give the House Minority Leader some credit, she has been leading the charge against these useless new tolls every step of the way.
June 09, 2017
Numbers Dispute Over Truck Tolls
Coventry Patch
The Republican Caucus has renewed its call to repeal the truck toll law. The reason is because the program will lose money, according to House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan (R-District 26 Coventry, Warwick, West Warwick).
June 08, 2017
Rep. Morgan, Republican Caucus Renews Call to Repeal Tolls
GoLocalProv
House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan and the Republican caucus are renewing calls to repeal the toll law.
June 08, 2017
The Cost of Doing Business?
The Hummel Report
With many areas of state government looking for savings to help bridge a mammoth deficit in next year’s budget, the General Assembly is asking for an increase on the amount it spends on itself: currently more than $42 million a year.
June 07, 2017
Truck-Toll System Costs Rhode Island More Than 1st Reported
Associated Press
A proposed truck-toll project in Rhode Island will cost more than first reported because officials didn't include construction costs.
June 07, 2017
Rep. Patricia Morgan - repeal RhodeWorks
WPRO News Talk 630 AM
The Matt Allen Show
June 06, 2017
Truck-toll system to cost more than reported once construction is added
Providence Journal
Rhode Island’s planned truck-toll network will cost more than initially reported because officials did not include construction costs in a recent release of contract details.
June 04, 2017
Political Scene: Three issues divide lawmakers: abortion, guns and paid leave
Providence Journal
Abortion rights. Guns on school grounds. Paid sick leave.
From the results of a recent Providence Journal survey, it seems evident: Rhode Island’s part-time lawmakers remain deeply divided on all three of these high-profile issues heading into the final weeks of this year’s session.
June 03, 2017
Patricia Morgan: Pawtucket Red Sox stadium would cost taxpayers
Providence Journal
The proposed Pawtucket Red Sox stadium would cost taxpayers well over $100 million after bond fees and interest, construction costs, infrastructure upgrades and demolition of McCoy were added together. Those costs don’t even take into account the next renovation, which will undoubtedly be called for in 18 to 20 years.
May 31, 2017
RI lawmaker pushes to nix tax on beer, malted beverages
NBC 10 News
A bill in the Rhode Island State House would eliminate sales tax on beer, matching the situation in Massachusetts. The idea is that more people will shop for beer in the Ocean State instead of going over the state line looking for bargains.
May 31, 2017
Trucking Industry Disputes Revenue Projections for Rhode Island’s Truck-Only Tolling
Transport Topics, American Trucking Associations Inc.
Rhode Island House Republican minority leader Patricia Morgan and trucking industry leaders are disputing state Department of Transportation revenue projections for the truck-only tolling RhodeWorks program slated to be in place in 2018.
May 30, 2017
Speaker unveils plan to end R.I.’s much-hated car tax by 2024 + poll
Providence Journal
House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello on Tuesday unveiled his long-awaited car-tax repeal proposal, at a projected price tag that starts at $26 million in the budget year that begins on July 1 and then grows incrementally to $221 million by 2024.
May 26, 2017
Anti-toll group accuses R.I. of bridge repair ‘scam’
The Westerly Sun
The Rhode Island Trucking Association (RITA) announced Tuesday that the R.I. Department of Transportation is poised to reconstruct a bridge that does not require repair or replacement so that it will qualify as a gantry location.
May 23, 2017
GOP, truckers renew calls for lawmakers to repeal RI truck tolls
WPRI
Republican lawmakers and trucking industry leaders renewed their assault Tuesday on the truck tolls Gov. Gina Raimondo is using to fund her RhodeWorks infrastructure repair plan, calling for the tolls to be repealed.
May 22, 2017
House Minority Leader Sends Governor A Formal Public Records Request
Coventry Patch
House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan (R-District 26 Coventry, Warwick, West Warwick) is fed up with information delays at the governor's office. On Friday, she submitted an APRA (Access to Public Records Act) request to the office of Governor Gina M. Raimondo. She's asking for the names, titles and salaries of all new hires in the Governor’s Administration from budget years 2015 and 2018.
May 21, 2017
RI Federation of Republican Woman, Rep Morgan to Host Small Business Forum
GoLocalProv
The RI Federation of Republican Woman will host a Small Business Forum with House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan.
The forum will take place on Monday, May 22 at 7 p.m. at the RI GOP Headquarters in Warwick.
May 17, 2017
RI Commerce Vice Chair and Raimondo Appointee is Massachusetts Resident
GoLocalProv
In 2015, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo named a high powered Boston financier to serve on the board of Rhode Island Commerce Corporation.
May 11, 2017
Rhode Island bill calls for guns to be taken from domestic violence offenders
Guns.com
A bill that would prohibit domestic violence offenders from owning guns has sparked heated debate in Rhode Island.
The proposal, House Bill 5510, would essentially prohibit gun possession from people subject to domestic restraining orders and from those convicted of misdemeanor cyberstalking and domestic violence.
May 07, 2017
Spray away gypsy moths? New England lets nature try first
Boston.com
Should New England states spray insecticides to kill gypsy moths before they cause another year of widespread tree defoliation? Some politicians want the government to help eradicate the pests, though entomologists say forests will be better off if nature takes care of itself.
May 09, 2017
Two truck-only toll locations in Rhode Island to be installed this year
LandLineMag
More than a year after Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo signed a bill into law allowing tolls exclusively on commercial vehicles, the Ocean State has determined the first locations of the truck toll that will be installed later this year, according to a Rhode Island Department of Transportation spokesperson.