1. STORY OF THE WEEK: In some ways, the $14.3 billion budget approved by Rhode Island’s House Finance Committee this week is a return to the pre-COVID norm. But in other ways, it’s a placeholder, since GOP budget priorities in Washington could blow a hole in the spending plan and force lawmakers to return for an unusual fall session. That uncertainty casts an additional pall as Rhode Island moves past the uncharacteristic surpluses of the COVID pandemic and back into a new era of perpetual annual deficits. For now, the budget eliminates a deficit with a series of nips and tucks, including some fee and tax increases, while steering clear of broad-based tax hikes. The budget bears the imprimatur of House Speaker Joe Shekarchi in the form of heightened spending on health care: up to $45 million more for primary care, an additional $38 million for hospitals and a $12 million boost for nursing homes. There’s also an infusion of support for RIPTA, although not enough to wipe out the transit agency’s $33 million deficit. The ‘Taylor Swift tax’ — coined by my former colleague Scott MacKay —  aims to funnel more money into housing. The budget moves to the House floor for a lengthy debate Tuesday.

2. AWB BAN: The fate of legislation to ban new sales of guns defined as ‘assault weapons’ is the top question as the General Assembly heads into what could be the last week of session. Does the Senate version sleep with the fishes? That’s what many suspect after a back and forth where the four Republicans in the chamber made the difference during an unusual vote Thursday. For the details, read my story.

3. IMMIGRATION: The top national story of the week was President Trump’s move to send the National Guard and active-duty Marines to Los Angeles, following protests about ICE raids. An appeals court has for now allowed Trump to command the California Guard; here’s what U.S. law says about the president’s legal ability to deploy active-duty troops. Closer to home, Gov. Dan McKee signed onto a Democratic Governors Association letter criticizing Trump’s action. “If I have a problem here and I need to get some help from Washington, I make a phone call,” the governor told me during an interview this week. Amid the fallout, a series of “No Kings” protests are planned around the United States on Saturday, June 14. Local events include a noon to 2 pm demonstration outside the Statehouse and 1 to 3 pm at India Point Park. 

4. LG PROSPECTS: Gov. McKee realized the dream of lieutenant governors everywhere when he moved up in 2021 to succeed Gina Raimondo as Rhode Island’s top elected official. But the LG has few official functions and we all remember how Robert “Cool Moose” Healey campaigned on the idea of eliminating the job. All this notwithstanding, the 2026 Democratic LG primary is already simmering, thanks to the view that Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos may be vulnerable due to a 2023 signature-gathering controversy. Cynthia Coyne of Barrington, who decided not to seek re-election to the state Senate in 2022, this week jumped into the race. In her campaign announcement, Coyne said she was the first Democrat to win Barrington’s Senate seat in more than 100 years and she touted herself as a problem-solver: “My work has been about bringing people together. Listening to people. Seeking the truth and solving problems. That’s what government should be about.” There are a host of prospective other Democratic candidates, including Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien and Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera. While the field is unlikely to grow as big as the one for CD1 in 2023, one thing to watch is whether the number of candidates winds up tossing an edge to Matos.

5. WASHINGTON BRIDGE: An update, via my colleague Jeremy Bernfeld: “Two of the companies being sued by the state of Rhode Island over the closure of the westbound Washington Bridge say the state did not tell them about concerns engineers raised about the bridge decades before they were hired for a rehabilitation project. The joint-venture of Barletta Heavy Division Inc. and Aetna Bridge Company – which, along with engineering consulting firm VHB, won the contract in 2021 to rehabilitate the westbound Washington Bridge – made the claims in court documents filed Thursday.” For more on the bridge, check our series, Breaking Point.

6. REPUBLICAN THUNDER: Ashley Kalus got almost 39% of the vote for governor as a recent transplant to Rhode Island in 2022. While Kalus said she is undecided about another run, she said she wants to be an agent for change: “I’m the opposition. I am not okay with our housing crisis, with our lack of progress on schools and our lack of progress with affordability, and also the sort of general policies that are not accomplishing the change that we need to have in Rhode Island. So it’s a very simple question in terms of, are you with the status quo? Are you with the opposition? Sort of, to quote the old labor thing, which side are you on? You have to pick a side.” Speaking on Political Roundtable, Kalus said she is not aware of any other Republicans contemplating a run for governor next year. Elsewhere, the Rhode Island Young Republicans announced the formation of a Cranston chapter chaired by Jessica Gomes. In a statement, she said, “For most of my life, I was told what to think politically without ever being encouraged to ask why. As I began to study public policy for myself, I found that conservative principles aligned most closely with my values — values rooted in personal responsibility, opportunity for growth, and strong communities.” 

7. SMITH HILL: The Rhode Island Ethics Commission found this week there is not a conflict per se between Val Lawson simultaneously serving as president of the state Senate and the National Education Association Rhode Island, one of the largest teachers’ unions in the state. John Marion, executive director of the good government group Common Cause of Rhode Island, told the ProJo’s Patrick Anderson that it was “somewhat naive” for the commission to not consider the power that comes with being a legislative leader, such as the ability to make appointments and to decide which bills get votes. Lawson hailed the decision as a victory showing that one need not be retired or independently wealthy to serve in her role.

8. HEALTHCARE: Uncertainty continues to be the watchword for two financially-strapped safety-net hospitals, Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in North Providence. That’s because there has been less than robust demand for the bonds being sold to finance the hospitals’ acquisition by the Centurion Foundation, an Atlanta-based nonprofit. In a message to colleagues this week, the CEO of the hospitals’ parent company said he is optimistic about a renewed effort to sell the bonds.

9. THE ARTS: Providence-based artist, educator and organizer Jordan Seaberry has a new web comic based on the question of “WTF Can Artists Do During A Fascist Takeover?” As Seaberry told my colleague James Baumgartner, “The first thing we can do is we can choose a side and we can choose to put our artistic practices to service for that side. People think, a lot of artists in particular think about polarization as the enemy, as an obstacle, and I would love to be polarized against fascism.”

10. MEDIA: The U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to claw back $1.1 billion from public media radio and television stations across the U.S., on a 214 to 212 vote. We are a long way from the time back in 1969 when Fred Rogers convinced U.S. Sen. John O. Pastore of Rhode Island about the value of public media. 

11. TIME TRAVEL: The unveiling of the time capsule from the longest game in baseball history is slated for 5:30-7:30 pm on June 23, the 44th anniversary of the 33-inning game. Parking is available at Jenks Middle School and entrance is via the Division Street entrance to the former McCoy Stadium. 

12. KICKER: Matunuck Oyster Bar owner Perry Raso this week said the venue may be able to offer al fresco service in the short term. Via statement: “As we continue to assess the significant damage from last month’s fire, we are grateful to Rhode Island state leaders for their fast action in introducing and advancing legislation that, if passed, will allow us to preserve roughly 50 jobs by opening Matunuck Oyster Bar for al fresco dining this summer. While we know summer at Matunuck Oyster Bar won’t look the same this year, this creative solution is a great first step toward welcoming diners back to our tables and keeping our staff working and earning wages during this busy season …. Most importantly, we once again thank our community of friends, colleagues and neighbors for your overwhelming support and generosity. We are honored to have earned it, and we don’t take it for granted. We look forward to sharing our plans for al fresco dining in the marina parking lot across the street from the Matunuck Oyster Bar if and when this legislation is enacted, and we remain committed to take any step we can to preserve as many summer shifts for as many of our employees as possible.”