A Jan. 6 reminder: ‘All elected officials have a responsibility to rise above politics, demand accountability and speak truth’

From the Boston Globe:

A year after the 2021 insurrection in Washington, D.C., two Rhode Island lawmakers reflect on the need to protect democracy, especially when it’s politically tough to do so

By Dawn Euer and Brandon PotterUpdated January 6, 2022, 5:00 a.m.

A full year has passed since our nation suffered a historic assault on our democratic republic. The peaceful transition of power is a hallmark of American democracy, and when rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, they did more than violently attempt to prevent the certification of what has been proven to be a legitimate, free and fair election. They undermined the very integrity of our democracy, deepened the divides between us, and displayed the real danger of misinformation.

Most importantly, they showed our country just how fragile our democracy can be, and why all elected officials have a responsibility to rise above politics, demand accountability and speak truth — especially when it’s politically tough — to protect it.

The insurrection of Jan. 6, of course, did not happen by accident. Years of stoked resentments, distortions and lies spread by partisan news networks and on the internet laid the groundwork. Ironically, at a time when we have quicker and easier access to information than ever, misinformation has twisted our politics and been weaponized by opportunists seeking political and financial gain.

But only by officials legitimizing fringe conspiracy theories — either by embracing them in a dangerous game of politics, or by ignoring them and minimizing their effect — do we arrive at a point when supporters of the former president were willing to launch a deadly assault, including sacrificing their own lives, for a lie.

The danger of Jan. 6 didn’t end last year. A coup attempt that inches us further toward authoritarianism continues. The former president and his enablers still persist with baseless claims of voter fraud. Some connected to the plot have flagrantly refused to respond to congressional subpoenas. Elected officials around the nation have also been complicit, enacting laws restricting voting rights and replacing impartial elections officials with partisan appointees. And the voices we most need largely remain silent.

We are grateful to the U.S. House of Representatives and to the federal agencies working to hold accountable those responsible — both those who stormed the Capitol and those who worked behind the scenes or publicly to incite them. But we all bear some responsibility to create the change that is necessary to stop the crumbling of our democracy.

It’s incumbent upon all of us — and particularly leaders and influencers — to take responsibility for our actions and words. We all must stop spreading false narratives for politically expedient reasons. Creating or even just sharing explosive content that cannot be verified is irresponsible — and as we’ve seen, dangerous.

We also must seek opportunities to step out of our social circles and truly listen to individuals from other parts of the political spectrum. When you hear only the messages of like-minded people, you lose valuable perspective, and inevitably become blind to the reason, and even the humanity, of those with whom you disagree politically.

True leaders must responsibly use their power, including the power of communication, and not stoop to using manipulative tactics to further our goals. Restoring — or more accurately, earning the public’s trust — will require intentional work. Those of us at the state level are particularly well-positioned to do that work, since we often know a great many of our constituents personally. Every one of us — Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike — must do his or her part to distance ourselves from inflammatory rhetoric and lies perpetuated to divide Americans.

Because protecting our democracy cannot be a partisan issue.

Rhode Island state Senator Dawn Euer is a Democrat representing Senate District 13. R.I. state Representative Brandon Potter is a Democrat representing House District 16.

Rent & Mortgage Relief – Virtual Panel Discussion

What’s Up Newp will hosted live virtual housing relief program panel discussion at 1 pm on Wednesday, September 1. The conversation will include Senator Dawn Euer; Christine Hunsinger, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at RI Housing; Angela Downing, Director of Social Services; and Cindy Nemet, Family Advocate Safety Net.
Click HERE to view the panel.

Suicide prevention bill signed into law

In 2018, the Be Great For Nate non-profit organization was born from a group of high school students in Portsmouth after the suicide of 15-year-old Nathan Bruno. He had no history of mental illness and did not appear to be at risk of taking his own life.

After Bruno’s death, Be Great For Nate and the Every Student Initiative set a course for change and to help combat a growing problem.

Nathan’s dad, Rick Bruno teamed up with Steven Peterson to lead and mold the non-profit, and The Every Student Initiative quickly became the first program of Be Great For Nate.

The Every Student Initiative focused on practical ways to help students with mental health challenges and tactics and programs for the educators to support them.

The legislation is modeled around a law in place in several other states after a 16-year-old from Nashville, Jason Flatt, took his own life.

The act would require teachers, students, and all school personnel to be trained on suicide awareness and prevention, and also establish a conflict resolution process between faculty and the student body.

It was passed and signed by Gov. Dan McKee in early 2021. The bill had the support of Rep. Terri Cortvriend, Sen. James Seveney, and Sen. Dawn Euer, who were also in attendance and spoke at the gala.

Senate approves Euer bill to designate environmental justice areas

The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Senate Environment and Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Dawn Euer to require the Division of Statewide Planning to designate population-based environmental justice focus areas throughout the state that would have extra protection from new proposals that would create additional adverse environmental impacts.

The purpose of the bill is to protect neighborhoods — particularly those with lower incomes, more minorities and more people for whom English is not the primary language — from bearing outsized shares of the burden of pollution and environmental hazards from infrastructure and development.

“Far too often, neighborhoods that are already suffering more than their share of pollution-producing infrastructure are targeted with proposals for more of them. Often it’s the poorest neighborhoods, partly because people with more means don’t want to live in such areas, and partly because such neighborhoods are often viewed as having less ability to fight back against environmental hazards proposed in them,” said Chairwoman Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown) in a statement. “That’s environmental injustice, and our state needs to take deliberate action to prevent it. No one deserves to have their neighborhood serve as a dumping ground for multiple pollution-producing facilities, potentially explosive storage facilities and hazardous chemicals.”

Guest View – Rep. Carson, Sen. Euer: Short-term rental safety must be addressed

Summer is upon us, and with the increased vaccination rate making tourism possible now, places like our district in Newport are pleased and relieved to welcome visitors again.

As the tourism industry tries to recover from the devastation impacts of a lost year, our state must get back to work on unresolved issues concerning short-term rentals offered by third-party hosting platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO.

We’ve been working in the General Assembly on several efforts to address their regulation and taxation, and we cannot afford to keep kicking the can down the road in the unique challenges faced this tourism season. We’ve already experienced one tragedy this summer – the murder of a URI student at a party held at a short-term rental on Thames Street in Newport on Memorial Day weekend.

Without any interaction between the landlord and the renter who secures the property through the third-party platform, there is little vetting of renters, and rarely any management or other means available to discourage renters from using properties for out-of-control gatherings. The anonymity fostered by the third-party platforms reduces the sense of responsibility between renters and property owners, and complicates local efforts to maintain public safety and peace in the residential areas where they are located.

Senate approves Senator Euer’s bill to remove spousal exemption from rape law

The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Dawn Euer to allow criminal charges to be brought when a person is raped by their spouse while the victim is incapacitated.

State law includes an exemption for spouses in the part of state’s first-degree sexual assault law that addresses situations when the victim is incapacitated, disabled or helpless. The bill (2021-S 0834) approved by the Senate today would eliminate that exemption.

“Consent always matters. A person who cannot consent because they are unconscious, drugged or disabled deserves to be protected from anyone who would abuse them in that state, spouse or not. That’s rape no matter who you are, and refusing to recognize it as such is leaving victims subject to repeated abuse. Our state must bring this ancient law into the 21st century and recognize that consent is every person’s inalienable right,” said Senator Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown) in a statement.

Lawmakers want changes at CRMC

Jamestown’s state senator is co-sponsoring a bill that would create the position of executive director for the Coastal Resources Management Council.

Although Jeffrey Willis currently serves in that role, the post is confirmed by the agency’s 10-member board. The legislation by Sen. Dawn Euer would make the position a gubernatorial appointee “with the advice and consent of the Senate.”

Sen. Susan Sosnowski, who represents South Kingstown, introduced the bill to make the council “a cabinet-level agency.”

“This is a positive step needed to modernize, update and reform the agency to achieve more accountability and transparency for an agency that performs vitally important functions that are critical to the future of Rhode Island’s environment and economy,” she said.

Legislators introduce bill to ban new waste incineration facilities

STATEHOUSE – Sen. Bridget Valverde and Rep. Justine Caldwell introduced joint legislation last week which would prohibit new, high-heat waste incineration facilities in Rhode Island.

The bill comes on the heels of outcry and concern from their local constituents, who in large part, have come out in strong opposition against a proposed medical waste facility on the border of East Greenwich and West Warwick. 
In the Senate, legislation sponsors include Senate Committee on Environment & Agriculture Chairwoman Dawn Euer, Vice Chairwoman Alana DiMario, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Chairman Joshua Miller, Sen. Kendra Anderson and Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis – who represents Coventry, East Greenwich and West Greenwich – along with several others.

Lawmaker renews call to double the membership of RI's Health Services Council

A bill introduced by state Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Newport) would double the membership of a state advisory group known as the Health Services Council.

Euer said she’s introduced a similar proposal before and that it was sparked by concerns related to the closing of Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket in 2018.

“I first introduced this bill in 2018 to restore the strength and intent of the Hospital Conversions Act, which was established to protect patients and frontline health workers,” she said. “This law has been dangerously eroded in recent years and S493 prioritizes accountability for those who seek control of our healthcare delivery. Healthcare is a calling, and we must honor that.