Rhode Island lawmakers vow not to repeat all-nighter session

June 20, 2016 3:47 pm

By: The Associated Press

news@abc6.com

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ Rhode Island lawmakers are vowing not to repeat the all-nighter legislative session that kept them in the State House until after dawn on Saturday.

Democratic House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello said Monday he’s frustrated with the marathon meeting that didn’t end until after 6 a.m.

Mattiello says he almost called it a night late Friday because of stalled negotiations between the House and the Senate, but lawmakers wanted to finish and adjourn the annual session.

Republican House Minority Leader Brian Newberry began voting “no” on every bill in protest. He says it’s hard to make good decisions in the wee hours of the morning.

As night turned to dawn, nerves were frayed. Democratic Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed choked up at the rostrum over a bill the House wouldn’t move.