Progressives, GOP could find common ground in State House [View all]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The dark cloud that followed most Rhode Island Republican candidates’ campaign dreams on Election Day may have contained a silver lining of opportunity.

The conflict between liberal and conservative factions within the House Democratic caucus — which deepened during the recent campaign and threatened to topple House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello — could, at least in theory, give the depleted nine-member GOP opposition more legislative leverage than they’ve had recently.

The Rhode Island Constitution requires a two-thirds vote, or 50 representatives in the 75-member House, to pass a state budget, or at least the budget as it’s been passed in recent history (more on that later).

While the 66 Democrats in the House can easily pass a budget without Republican help if they stick together, an alliance between Republicans and the breakaway group of 21 progressive lawmakers, who are furious with Mattiello, could hold up the spending bill if they vote as a bloc.

Read more: http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20181111/political-scene-progressives-gop-could-find-common-ground-in-state-house