Brian Newberry is a member of The Rhode Island House of Representatives from the 48th district, encompassing North Smithfield and portions of Burrillville in northern Rhode Island.
As a Republican who has been in office since 2009, Newberry has had a first-hand look at how the mechanics and procedures of The House can stifle potential legislation that may seem to have broad political will, but may never come before the full body for a vote.
The Rhode Island House has three distinct factions - The Institutionalist Centrist Democrats in command, The Reform Caucus, encompassing most progressive Democrats and some reform-oriented centrist Democrats, and the smallest faction, The Republican Party, and the forging of coalitions within and between those factions is a key element of Rhode Island lawmaking
I sat down with Rep Newberry at The Loft right before a headed into a House session, and gained an understanding of how he believes The General Assembly can be improved, and what his own future political plans might look like.