House Finance chair resigns from post

PROVIDENCE – House Finance Committee Chairman Raymond E. Gallison Jr. resigned from the General Assembly on May 3.

WJAR-TV NBC 10 reported Gallison is part of a federal prostitution investigation.

Gallison, a Bristol Democrat, did not return calls for comment. He represents District 69 in Bristol and Portsmouth. He was elected in 2000.

WJAR cited sources that said the investigation is a joint effort between the R.I. State Police and the FBI, and that Gallison is the focus. The FBI declined comment. The state police did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

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The lawmaker’s troubles come at a critical time for Gov. Gina M. Raimondo’s 2017 budget proposal. The budget plan is entering the phase during which the House Finance Committee conducts its review.

“The challenge is going to be that we have to work harder than ever to stay focused,” she said. “Yes, this is a distraction, there’s no doubt about it … but people are depending on us to work together to get things done – we just have to do that.” •

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