Ian Donnis

The Republican leader in the Rhode Island House says he plans to vote against the state budget next week since it includes money to pay back 38 Studios’ bonds.

GOP leader Brian Newberry was one of two reps abstaining Tuesday when the House Finance Committee approved an 8-point-two billion dollar budget. The spending plan is for the fiscal year starting July first.

The House Finance Committee Tuesday passed an 8.2 billion budget for the fiscal year starting July first.  The spending plan doesn’t include any new broad-based taxes and wipes out some of Governor Lincoln Chafee’s initiatives.

Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded the state’s bonds for its failed deal with 38 Studios.  Moody’s has put those and other state bonds under review for possible additional downgrades.

In explaining the move, Moody’s points to uncertainty in the General Assembly about whether to allocate money for paying back the 38 Studios’ bonds. The investors’ service downgraded the 38 Studios bonds from a low credit risk to a moderate risk.

State lawmakers continue to meet behind closed doors as they prepare to unveil their changes to the budget introduced by Governor Lincoln Chafee.  The legislative spending plan will be vetted Tuesday by the House Finance Committee.

Filling a budget hole of about 30 million dollars is the top challenge facing lawmakers. The deficit is a result of lower than expected state revenues. Linda Katz of the liberal Center for Economic Progress is concerned that social programs for the needy may take a hit when legislators try to clear the red ink.

A compromise measure in the Rhode Island House will require voters to show ID – but not photo ID – when they go to the polls. The bill will be the subject of a House Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday.

Democratic State Representative Larry Valencia of Richmond had introduced a bill to repeal the state’s voter ID law. Valencia says he opposes voter ID because he sees it as a barrier to voting. But the rep said his bill will be amended to address concerns on both sides of the issue.

Moody's Investors Service isn't taking lightly debate about whether to pay back bonds issued to fund the state's investment in 38 Studios. The agency has downgraded the 38 Studios' bonds and warned Rhode Island of other possible action:

Voters will still have to show identification to vote in Rhode Island -- but not a photo ID -- under a compromise ticketed for passage in the House of Representatives.

Welcome back to my weekly column. You can find me on Twitter. Let's head in.

The long-sought trial of James "Whitey" Bulger in US District Court in Boston offers a great example of how Twitter can carry the drama of legal action to a far bigger audience. Tweets from a bevy of top crime reporters, including WPRI-TV's Tim White, have offered a minute-by-minute account of the scene as the former fugitive mobster faces justice.

House Minority Leading Brian Newberry takes part in Bonus Q+A to discuss a possible public subsidy for the Superman Building; his evaluation of Governor Lincoln Chafee; and the outlook for increasing GOP representation in the General Assembly.