The Long Term Care Coordinating Council develops and coordinates state policy concerning all forms of long-term health care for the elderly and adults with chronic disabilities and illnesses, ranging from at-home and community-based care and respite care through intensive nursing care to long-term hospital care. The council examines and makes recommendations on standards of care, personnel training, enforcement of regulations, access and eligibility and funding for long-term care in the state.

Representative Fierro, a freshman Democrat who represents District 51 in Woonsocket, is slated to serve a two-year term on the 37-member panel, which is chaired by Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work on issues that have a very significant effect on most of us at some point in our lives. With a greater percentage of Americans moving toward their senior years, the demand for long-term care is increasing more rapidly than ever. Funding it and making sure that patients are getting high-quality care as the demand grows is going to take creativity, hard work and smart policies. I’m grateful for the chance to be part of a group that continually works to make the system work better for the people who need it,” said Representative Fierro. “I’m looking forward to the chance to help improve the lives of seniors not only in Woonsocket, but all across Rhode Island.”

http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/News/pr1.asp?prid=5960

All of the regular Woonsocket polling places are open, so vote at your normal spot. If in doubt, you can find out here.

State law requires voters to be registered at least 30 days prior to an election. In order to register to vote in the municipal election, you must be at least 18 years of age by Election Day, a U.S. citizen and a resident of Woonsocket.

Although the deadline to register falls on a Saturday, Woonsocket officials have made arrangements for residents to register at the Harris Library, 303 Clinton St., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Voters who have moved or changed their names since they last registered can update their voter records as required by state law.

You can check your current voting status–address and party affiliation at the Secretary of State’s website: www.sec.state.ri.us/elections

Check out this video supporting Rep. Pacheco’s young voter pre-registration legislation. Pre-registering voters is one way that we’ll streamline our state’s voter rolls and increase voter participation.

Landmark Medical Center has revealed its intention to become part of Caritas Christi Health Care, a Massachusetts-based chain of six Catholic hospitals.Superior Court Judge Michael A. Silverstein, who has been supervising the struggling hospital’s management for more than a year, on Thursday approved Landmark’s proposal to negotiate exclusively with Caritas Christi.

It will take many months to bring the proposal to fruition. But Thursday’s ruling marks a significant milestone in the effort to save the Woonsocket hospital, which asked for court supervision in 2008 because it was in danger of financial collapse.

You can read the whole ProJo article here. I’ll add my press release to this shortly…

My name is Chris Fierro. I am a Rhode Island State Representative representing District 51, which is in the City of Woonsocket. I am here tonight on behalf of my constituents to urge this commission to exercise your power to deny National Grid’s requested rate increase.

We in Woonsocket cannot afford an increased burden. Across our state, wages are stagnant and unemployment is amongst the highest in the nation. At a time when we’re all struggling to get by, please do not give a rate-payer funded bailout to National Grid. We’re all getting by with less–Grid can too.

There were about thirty people in attendance. I was surprised when they clapped at the conclusion of my short remarks.

The ProJo reports that we’ll be back on October 28th and 29th. I am a bit skeptical, as the dates have moved at least three times.  None of the rank and file reps seem to know exactly what the agenda will be for those two days.

I will post an update when I have more details.

Other than that uncertainty, I have been very busy. Tonight I’ll be attending Common Cause RI’s panel discussion on ethics and the so-called “speech in debate” clause. We need strong ethics rules, and I am proud to co-sponsor legislation that will restore the power of the ethics commission.

Tomorrow, I will be attending the Public Utility Commission’s public hearing for National Grid’s rate increase request. I haven’t written it up yet, but I intend to make the point that the rates keep going up unchecked while wages are stagnant. I’m also looking for a legislative fix to the problem of the rubber-stamp PUC.

This weekend, I’m officiating one of my best friends’ wedding and then off to a work-related conference for the first half of next week.

Longer-term; I am planning two events in Woonsocket for the Fall as well as working on an end of session newsletter…I’ll have some details on those shortly.

WRNI’s Ian Donnis has a great spot on new media and local politics.

You can also download the MP3 here.

Despite my inclusion, the piece is well worth the listen!