Governor signals possible veto of disability-pensions bill

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Gov. Gina Raimondo is “highly concerned” about newly passed legislation creating the presumption that firefighters with heart conditions are entitled to the same tax-free, two-thirds-pay disability pensions received by those who have been permanently disabled by on-the-job injuries.

While not yet ready to say whether she will veto the bill that passed the General Assembly during Tuesday’s one-day special session, she said: “From what I understand of it, it’s probably not something that I am going to be able to support, because I think that it will wind up weakening the pension system for everybody ... also putting an undue burden on taxpayers.”

“Give me a day or two to review it ... and I’ll let you know,” she said, when asked the likelihood of a veto of this or any other bill now headed to her desk.

Raimondo talked to reporters about the highs and lows of the 2017 session after a press conference to celebrate the signing in late-June of a new law to allow the state’s crime-victims compensation fund to pay up to $1,500 toward counseling and psychiatric treatment for children who witness a homicide or incident of domestic violence. State Treasurer Seth Magaziner, who oversees the state-run fund, said the police officers who championed the bill told him that children are present at 35 percent of domestic violence arrests.

Read more: http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20170920/ri-governor-signals-possible-veto-of-disability-pensions-bill