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June 23, 2006

Lawmakers hope to adjourn tonight

PROVIDENCE – As state legislators strive to wrap up this year's General Assembly session, they’ve yet to pass the state’s $6.66 billion budget.

They’ve left that for debate tonight by the Senate Finance Committee, which is expected to begin tackling the budget at 6 p.m. in Room 211 of the State House.

But will the legislators be able to get to all that’s left in order to finish tonight?

One can wonder, considering the 45-minute debate in the House last night over whether to honor Anne Hutchinson, a 17th-century champion of civil liberties and religious freedom who lived in Portsmouth for a time, by naming a bridge after her.

In a state with no bridges named after a woman, the legislators argued along gender lines about whether Hutchinson could have that honor or must share it with Capt. Robert Gray, a Tiverton native who served as a Revolutionary War officer.

"I urge you all to name one thing after one great woman," said Rep. Edith Ajello, D-Providence, in support of the legislation introduced by Rep. Amy Rice, D-Portsmouth.

Rep. Timothy Williamson, D-Coventry, drew laughs when he suggested naming one lane of the bridge after Hutchinson and another after Gray.

More laughs came when House Speaker William Murphy responded, "Or name it after Anne Hutchinson and paint it gray."

With 93 items on the full House calendar for today, and 34 on the Senate's, when will it end?

-- With reports from The Associated Press

Posted by Kate Bramson  at 8:10 AM | Permalink

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