EAST PROVIDENCE, RI: Senator Lou Raptakis (representing Coventry, West Greenwich, East Greenwich) sat down with Dan Yorke to discuss his no vote on the abortion rights bill. Credit WNAC

“Pro-choice activists aren’t giving up hope to pass an abortion-rights bill this session after a Senate committee struck it down on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, leaving pro-lifers cheering.” (WJAR)

Raptakis said women who want to get an abortion in Rhode Island can still do so. He doesn't think there's any urgency to pass the bill. “If there's a fear with the Supreme Court happening, we've got time,” said Raptakis. “We're coming back in six months.” See the full coverage at: WJAR

"STATE HOUSE – Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, East Greenwich, West Greenwich) and Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick) are highlighting the release of Auditor General Dennis Hoyle’s report on the long-troubled Coventry sewer program and the high costs being levied on Coventry’s taxpayers. The Auditor General completed the report at the request of Senator Raptakis, Representative Serpa, and other members of the Coventry delegation in the General Assembly.

The report lays out a detailed analysis of the operations and implementation of the controversial sewer project and offers several recommendations to rectify concerns about the program, as well as, recommendations to ensure the project’s short-term and long-term financial viability and success." Read full report... Click/tap here.

02/01/19 GoLocal Live: "Rhode Island State Senator Leonidas “Lou” Raptakis (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, West Greenwich, East Greenwich) is reintroducing legislation that ties any future increase in the hourly minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index of the Northeast Region.

Raptakis, who introduced the same bill (2018-S 2246) last legislative session, joined GoLocalProv News Editor Kate Nagle at the Rhode Island State House on GoLocal LIVE.

“This proposal will provide wage raises that are needed by individuals earning minimum wage while ensuring that businesses are not overburdened with a dramatic increase that would cause financial hardship for our small businesses,” said Raptakis.

Raptakis also spoke to his support for legislation for a line item veto and an inspector general — and his opposition to Governor Gina Raimondo’s plan to legalize marijuana in Rhode Island in her Fiscal Year 2020 budget proposal."

01/28/2019 the Newport Buzz reports: Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, West Greenwich, East Greenwich) will be reintroducing legislation that ties any future increase in the hourly minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of the Northeast Region. Senator Raptakis introduced the same bill (2018-S 2246) last session. Read and Link to: Details on tying minimum wage increases to CPI reintroduced by State Senator Leonidas P. Raptakis.

By: Ballotpedia - The Encyclopedia of American Politics

 “What they’ve done is they’ve just opened up this whole issue to a third party and a third party took advantage of a loophole," said Sen. Lou Raptakis, a Democrat that represents District 33. Raptakis was forwarded the flyer from one of his constituents. He said he wouldn't campaign that way, and the whole idea of it is just plain wrong. “Politics has no place in public education," he said. Read more at: NBC 10 RI.

Raptakis says he’s noticed several of his campaign signs have gone missing, which led him to do some digging. Two separate incidents, caught on camera, show Copley removing Raptakis' campaign signs at two different gas stations: A Sunoco Gas Station off of Exit 6 and a Mobile Gas Station off of exit 7 on I-95 South in West Greenwich..." Read original story and view actual stolen sign video at: NBC 10 RI