Governor signals possible veto of disability-pensions bill
PROVIDENCE, R.I. Gov. Gina Raimondo is highly concerned about newly passed legislation creating the presumption that firefighters with heart conditions are entitled to the same tax-free, two-thirds-pay disability pensions received by those who have been permanently disabled by on-the-job injuries.
While not yet ready to say whether she will veto the bill that passed the General Assembly during Tuesdays one-day special session, she said: From what I understand of it, its probably not something that I am going to be able to support, because I think that it will wind up weakening the pension system for everybody ... also putting an undue burden on taxpayers.
Give me a day or two to review it ... and Ill let you know, she said, when asked the likelihood of a veto of this or any other bill now headed to her desk.
Raimondo talked to reporters about the highs and lows of the 2017 session after a press conference to celebrate the signing in late-June of a new law to allow the states crime-victims compensation fund to pay up to $1,500 toward counseling and psychiatric treatment for children who witness a homicide or incident of domestic violence. State Treasurer Seth Magaziner, who oversees the state-run fund, said the police officers who championed the bill told him that children are present at 35 percent of domestic violence arrests.
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