STATE HOUSE -- State Senator James C. Sheehan (D-Dist. 36) representing Narragansett and North Kingstown announced today that he will seek re-election to the RI State Senate. "It has been my honor and privilege to represent the residents of Narragansett and North Kingstown in the RI Senate. I am proud of my record, and ask for the support of the people in my district so that I may continue working to improve our government; make healthcare affordable and accessible, and maintain our quality of life." said Senator Sheehan.

Senator Sheehan stated that "while we have had to deal with some difficult challenges over the past year or two, these same challenges have brought with them opportunities for reform." Senator Sheehan was the first senator to spearhead lobbying reform in the senate. Specifically, Senator Sheehan sponsored legislation (S-2418 and S-2419) that would require public officials to disclose consulting fees to the Ethics Commission. "Such legislation is imperative to prevent any further erosion of public faith in our government which diminishes our collective ability to improve society through the power of good government," commented Senator Sheehan.

As vice-chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee Senator Sheehan stated that he was proud of progress that was made this past year in addressing some of the major problems in the healthcare industry. "In particular, we confronted festering problems relative to Blue Cross and Blue Shield," said Senator Sheehan. Senator Sheehan successfully sponsored legislation (S-2416) which now requires that Blue Cross pass along prescription drug savings to customers enrolled in the Blue Chip program. In addition, Senator Sheehan successfully sponsored legislation that would establish the health insurance market act. This act (S-2415) will explore the feasibility of combining the Massachusetts and Rhode Island health insurance markets into one large market place. "If the RI and MA markets can be integrated, this would foster greater competition, better service and lower premiums for Rhode Islanders," said Senator Sheehan.

Senator Sheehan also addressed issues relating to the quality of life in Rhode Island. Senator Sheehan noted that: "quality of life means that we need forward-looking economic development that will not sacrifice the beauty and health of our environment in the process." Senator Sheehan, who successfully led the charge against the Quonset mega container port, is convinced that the potential of Quonset to be an economic engine for the state must be realized. As such Senator Sheehan successfully sponsored landmark legislation (S-3050 Sub-A) that will create a new governance board at Quonset called the Quonset Development Corporation (QDC). This newly independent board will focus on developing new and existing industry and business at Quonset without being micromanaged by the Economic Development Corporation. Moreover, the board's structure will employ industry best practices in the areas of finance, expertise and corporate ethics. Further, the QDC will be the very first quasi-public board whose membership will not include legislators (Separation of Powers).

After the so-called Greenwich Bay Fish Kill occurred, Senator Sheehan joined South County Senators Susan Sosnowski and J. Michael Lenihan in an effort to avert such an environmental disaster in the future. The result was legislation (S-3027 and S-3040), co-sponsored by Senator Sheehan, that will provide for enhanced monitoring of our state's watersheds as well as implement a program to greatly reduce the introduction of pollution-causing nutrients in the bay. "Narragansett Bay is the crown jewel of the Ocean State. We need to be better stewards of the bay so that future Rhode Islanders can enjoy this natural resource as we do today," said Senator Sheehan.

In closing, Senator Sheehan stated, "being a state senator gives me the unique opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others. For me, there is no greater reward.