Elect Jay Edwards State Representative Tiverton-Portsmouth

Elect Jay Edwards State Representative Tiverton-PortsmouthElect Jay Edwards State Representative Tiverton-PortsmouthElect Jay Edwards State Representative Tiverton-Portsmouth
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Elect Jay Edwards State Representative Tiverton-Portsmouth

Elect Jay Edwards State Representative Tiverton-PortsmouthElect Jay Edwards State Representative Tiverton-PortsmouthElect Jay Edwards State Representative Tiverton-Portsmouth
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Issues

Opioid Epidemic

Opioid Epidemic

Opioid Epidemic

As a former director of Caritas, Jay has a long history of  helping people with  substance abuse issues.

  In 2019, Whip Edwards was selected as an Opioid Policy Fellow for the National Conference of State Legislatures, which focuses on health policies and programs being addressed throughout the country. When he returned, he sponsored a law that allows hospitals to contact the patient’s emergency contact and a certified peer recovery specialist in certain situations. The change will improve support for those hospitalized for drug overdoses and mental health emergencies by increasing the likelihood that their families or others wishing to assist them with treatment are aware of their hospitalization. Governor Raimondo named Rep Edwards to the State Opioid Task Force in 2019. Rep Edwards is also the House Sponsor on legislation that would create  a safe injection zones in RI. This would help reduce overdose deaths and get people access to treatment options. 

Environment

Opioid Epidemic

Opioid Epidemic

Rep  Edwards  is  the  only  member  of  the  General  Assembly  who  is  a  LEED  AP,  Leadership  in  Energy  and  Environmental Design  Accredited  Professional.  Jay  has  used  this  professional  experience  in  his  legislation  from  re-using  brown fields,  thus  preserving  more  pristine  land  for  things  like  farms,  parks  &  schools.  As  a  longtime  member  of  the  Tiverton  Land  Trust,  Jay  believes  in  preserving  open spaces  for  future  generations.  Jay’s  experience  in  the  construction  of  sustainable  buildings  has  also  become  legislation  through  the  Green  Buildings  Act.  

Rep  Edwards is the RI House  appointee  to  the  national  State Agricultural & Rural Leaders  where he  has  promoted land preservation  &  small,  family  farms. Jay is a longtime supporter of true green energy and  advocate for increased use of green energy and reduction/elimination of fossil fuel based sources. 

Local Issues

Local Issues

Local Issues

Rep  Edwards worked to ensure that the state budget includes language that mandates an annual flat fee of $100,000 each to the towns of Tiverton and Lincoln in compensation for serving as the host communities for sports wagering.  Representative Edwards led the East Bay delegation’s efforts in the House to halt tolling on the Sakonnet River Bridge in 2014. He played a crucial role in the General Assembly’s final compromise, which initiated the dismantling of the tolls and created a special infrastructure fund to support Rhode Island’s roads and bridges. Jay is also against the take over of the RI Turnpike & Bridge Authority by RIDOT. This would only shift the resources that currently maintain the 4 bridge system to the wider transportation infrastructure. 

Finances

Local Issues

Local Issues

 Jay  sponsored the Rhode Island Market Stability and Reinsurance Act, which stabilizes health insurance rates and premiums in the individual market and provides greater financial certainty to consumers.  Rep  Edwards  has  also  sponsored  bills  to  broaden  and  reduce  the  sales  tax  and  supported  the  elimination  of  the  car  tax.  As a member of the House Finance Committee, Jay has a seat at the table for his constituents in Tiverton & Portsmouth. In this era of the COVID 19 pandemic and the subsequent huge shortfalls in tax revenues, Jay was able to shepherd legislation through the House to allow cites & towns the ability to continue to tax at the FY 2020 rate until the State budget is set giving clarity on what they will receive in State funding. The bill passed unanimously 

Issues

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