Pubdate: Tue, 02 Oct 2007
Source: Anchor, The (Rhode Island College, RI Edu)
Contact: http://www.anchorweb.org/home/lettertotheeditor/
Copyright: 2007 The Anchor
Website: http://www.anchorweb.org
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4570
Author: Joseph Salisbury
Cited: Students for Sensible Drug Policy http://www.ssdp.org
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?219 (Students for Sensible Drug Policy)

CIVIL RIGHTS RALLY INCLUDE RIC STUDENTS, ALUMNI

On Monday, Sept. 24, members from a diverse group of local 
organizations, including RIC students and alumni, gathered in front 
of the State House to speak out against Governor Donald L. Carcieri's 
recent vetoes on several bills; encouraging the legislature to set a 
date for a special override session. Those present included members 
from the ACLU, Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE), Marriage 
Equality RI, Ocean State Action, SEIU Local 1199 and United Nurses & 
Allied Professionals as well as members from the Rhode Island College 
and Brown chapters of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP).

The organizations are pushing for overrides of vetoes of bills 
concerning civil rights, worker rights and health care legislation. 
In particular, the rally called for an override of the Governor's 
veto on the following bills, as per a press release from DARE:

Bill 5099 and S0029 sponsored by Representative Gallison and Senator 
Tassoni: This act would restrict mandatory overtime for nurse 
employees of private, public and state hospitals.

Bill 207 and 5127 sponsored by Senator Metts and Representative 
Almeida: This act would eliminate the mandatory minimum sentences for 
drug sentences.

Bill S619 sponsored by Senator Connors: This act would provide to 
domestic partners of certain state and municipal employees pension, 
death and other retirement benefits, which are currently available to 
spouses of such employees.

Bill 1014 and 5904 sponsored by Senator Pichardo and Representative 
Almeida: This act would ensure affirmative action requirements are 
met by the Governor and the General Assembly when making appointments.

Bill 648 and 6125 sponsored by Senator Levesque and Representative 
Coderre: This act would implement coordinated healthcare planning at 
the state level to target investments in the state's healthcare 
infrastructure in order to begin to control skyrocketing costs.

Joel Garcia, a Junior at RIC and President of RIC's chapter of 
Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), attended the event along 
with members from the Brown University chapter of SSDP. "The issue of 
mandatory minimums is important to me personally and is central to 
the work RIC SSDP hopes to do," explained Joel. Also showing his 
support for the veto override was RIC Alumni Anthony Francisco, Class 
of 2001, now a teacher at Hope High School. Mr. Francisco related, 
"youth make mistakes but these mistakes don't merit life imprisonment 
without parole. A society can do better for its people than prison - 
prison is death. Youth can change their ways, they deserve a chance 
at rehabilitation."

According to the Providence Journal, Governor Carcieri and the state 
police opposed the bill because, in addition to eliminating mandatory 
minimum sentences, it would have substantially shortened the maximum 
sentences for serious drug offenses. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake