07/01/2009 16:00 EDT
06/30/2009 17:45 EDT
06/30/2009 16:30 EDT
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Governor Donald L. Carcieri today transmitted, with signature, the FY 2010 budget, citing he had no other choice with more than $200 million at stake.
In a letter to Speaker William H, Murphy, Governor Donald L. Carcieri voiced his disappointment with the budget stating, “My signing this budget is not an endorsement of it in its entirety. I had intended to allow this budget to become law without my signature, however it was delivered to my office too late to do so. I am signing for this reason: over forty million dollars of state funding, plus hundreds of millions in Federal FMAP funds are at risk if the budget does not become law before July 1st.”
Governor Donald L. Carcieri was featured in the June 2009 volume of Caring magazine, a publication of the National Association for Home Care and Hospice. The article discusses the Governor’s focus on health care, and more specifically, the Global Medicaid Waiver which allows Rhode Island’s Medicaid program to be rebuilt on a foundation of home and community-based care.
To kick off theGreen Economy Roundtable, hosted by Governor Carcieri, Speaker William Murphy, Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed, and the RI Economic Development Corporattion, on June 26, Governor Carcieri signed groundbreaking legislation that requires the state’s largest electric utility to enter into long-term contracts to purchase power from renewable energy producers in Rhode Island.
“It is most fitting that we sign landmark renewable energy legislation at today’s Roundtable,” Governor Carcieri said. “Enacting this law will accelerate our efforts to be the first state in the nation to have an offshore wind farm, and it will open the door of opportunity for us to have large-scale renewable energy projects, greater price stabilization for consumers, and more green jobs in Rhode Island. We have the natural resources and the skilled workforce, and now with this important legislation we have the regulatory environment that is critical to spur the development of this industry.”
The Green Economy Roundtable was is a cornerstone of the EDC’s 2009 Economic Growth Plan, which proposes to accelerate the pace of job growth in Rhode Island through 10 concrete action items, including developing a clear focus for the expansion of Rhode Island’s renewable energy capabilities.
Joining the Governor in recognizing the importance of the legislation, Speaker Murphy said,, “This historic legislation is one of the most significant accomplishments of the legislative session. Not only is this a firm commitment to significantly lessen our state’s impact on the Earth by reducing our reliance on limited resources that cause pollution, but it is also a definitive investment in our green economy, creating a lasting market that will grow, will provide new jobs for Rhode Islanders, and will help make technological advances that will provide new opportunities and an improved quality of life in our state.”
The long-term contracting bill is expected to help large-scale renewable energy projects in Rhode Island attract the private financing they need, by guaranteeing there will be a market for the energy they produce. Deepwater Wind, the state’s offshore wind partner, has proposed building two wind farms off the coast of Rhode Island: A wind farm with five to eight turbines about three miles off of Block Island, and a utility-scale wind farm with about 100 turbines, roughly 15 miles from nearest landfall.
“Rhode Island is uniquely positioned to be a national leader in the green economy. Today's Roundtable discussion brings together leaders from a range of sectors to focus on the advancement of this objective. We hope to achieve a consensus vision and action plan for ways to foster the creation of green jobs in Rhode Island,” said Senate President Paiva Weed.
Joining the Governor for the official bill signing ceremony were legislation co-sponsors Majority Leader Gordon Fox and Senator Josh Miller, as well as Mike Ryan, president of National Grid.
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All Participants Recognized at a Reception Tuesday Evening at Twelve Acres Restaurant, Smithfield
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (RIDE) today (Tuesday, June 9th) announced the winners of the Rhode Island High-School Video Contest, in which high-school seniors were invited to submit ideas for a television public-service announcement (PSA) that focused on a community or social issue important to teens.
The contest was offered in conjunction with the rollout of the new Rhode Island Diploma System. Information about the Diploma System is available on the new WaytogoRI.org Web site: www.waytogori.org; click on the New High School Diploma System box.
The winners and the names of their submissions are:
The Office of Governor Donald L. Carcieri and a number of Rhode Island education agencies sponsored the contest, with the support of television station ABC6, cable station Rhode Island News Channel 5, Ronzio Pizza & Subs, and Twelve Acres.
“Our new high-school Diploma System is about students reaching beyond the classroom to apply their education in practical and meaningful ways,” said Governor Carcieri. “This contest challenged public high-school seniors to use their creative skills to talk to their peers about important issues.”
The Governor also reiterated that the private sector is an important component of the new high-school diploma system. “We need the support and involvement of Rhode Island businesses to make our high-school education successful,” said Governor Carcieri. “ABC6, News Channel 5, Ronzio’s, and Twelve Acres are setting a good example for the rest of the business community.”
The winners and all participants were honored at a reception held from on June 9th, from 5 -7 p.m., at Twelve Acres, 445 Douglas Pike, Smithfield.
How the contest worked.
Students graduating in 2009 (this year’s seniors) were invited to submit “storyboard” concepts (storyboards are rough illustrations depicting the PSA action) accompanied by a script or narrative along with a rough-cut video of their vision for the spot. Submissions had to focus on community or social issues that are important to teens, such as smoking, drinking, drug use, drinking and driving, teen violence, bullying, peer pressure, depression, cliques, the environment, or community service.
The first-place award recipients (seniors could enter individually or in teams of two, with the approval of their high school) win a $1,000 Ronzio College Scholarship (split among both winning students). They also worked with ABC6 to produce the TV spot, which will air on Channel 6, Rhode Island News Channel 5, and on abc6.com. The PSA was first shown today (June 9th) on ABC6 and at the reception.
The second-place award winner receives a $500 scholarship, the third-place award winner receives a $300 scholarship, and the honorable mention award winner receives a $100 scholarship. (These awards are funded through a National Governors Association grant.) All students who submitted entries will be presented with a certificate of participation. Seniors also had the option to include their entries as part of their senior project or portfolio, which is part of their Diploma System graduation requirements.
Rhode Island Diploma System
The Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education approved the Rhode Island Diploma System in January 2003 and amended it in September 2008. To receive a diploma from a public high school in Rhode Island, students must, among other requirements, demonstrate proficiency in six core areas of learning by applying skills and knowledge at a rigorous level.
“Our Board of Regents recognizes the importance of developing a Diploma System that improves the performance of our students and enables more of our young people to acquire the knowledge and skills that will prepare them for success in college and the workplace,” said Peter McWalters, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education. “The High-School Video Contest provided our seniors with an outlet to give voice to their social consciousness and organizational skills in a creative way while fulfilling their graduation requirements.”
State offices and departments working together on the Rhode Island Diploma System communications effort are: The Office of Governor Donald L. Carcieri, the Board of Regents and RIDE, the Board of Governors for Higher Education, the Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority, and the Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of Rhode Island.
Governor Carcieri honored the 100 student recipients at the 14th Annual Dunkin Donuts Scholarship Program. Dunkin Donuts awards $100,000 each year to high school seniors and college students who demonstrate qualities that make them stand out from fellow students. More than $1.4 million in scholarships have been awarded to local students within the 14 years Dunkin Donuts has funded the program.
Governor Carcieri commented on the importance of this scholarship for the students, “A college scholarship helped me further my education. I know firsthand the impact that a college scholarship can have upon your future.”
The Dunkin Donuts Scholarship program helps to enhance the Governor’s push for higher education. “From establishing rigorous standards to creating a statewide assessment system that is directly tied to standards, from instituting measures to enhance student performance in math and science to implementing a new diploma system, we have put the right building blocks in place,” said Governor Carcieri in reference to his program for higher education in Rhode Island.
