10-R348
2010 -- H 8292
Enacted 06/10/10
H O U S E R E S
O L U T I O N
HONORING SPEAKER
EMERITUS WILLIAM J. MURPHY FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF
Introduced
By: Representatives Fox, Mattiello, Watson, JP O`Neill, and
Date Introduced: June 10, 2010
WHEREAS, Albert Einstein
was quoted as saying, “Try not to become a man of success
but rather try to become a man of value.” During
his tenure with the Rhode Island General
Assembly, Speaker William J. Murphy has overwhelmingly
achieved both; and
WHEREAS, Upon graduation from
his Bachelor’s degree from the
WHEREAS, First elected to the
representing the people of West Warwick,
The Honorable William Murphy soon earned the respect
of his colleagues working as Vice-Chair
of the House Committee on Judiciary, as well as chairing
the Commission on Probation and
Parole, and the Commission on Criminal Justice; and
WHEREAS, On January 7th
of 2003, Speaker William Murphy was elected by his peers
to become the 221st Speaker of the Rhode Island House of
Representatives; and
WHEREAS, A former
president once said that, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but
if you want to test a man's character, give him power.”
The Honorable William J. Murphy rose to
the challenge, and utilizing the wisdom and good humor
that are so innately a part of his
character, he brought both integrity and success to his years
at the podium; and
WHEREAS, Credited with the successful enactment of Separation of
Powers legislation,
pension and tax reforms, numerous economic development
initiatives, including a very
productive film and television tax credit program, a ban on smoking
in most public places, and
tougher drunk driving laws, Speaker Murphy also confronted
some of the state’s and nation’s
most difficult budget years. To strengthen
tax rate, making our state more competitive, and all
fiscal budgets enacted under his leadership
were adopted without raising broad-based taxes or income
taxes; and
WHEREAS, Speaker Murphy
also safeguarded the day-to-day lives and futures of Rhode
Island’s most vulnerable and
endangered citizens. During his
tenure as Speaker, the state’s
minimum wage was raised, medical marijuana legislation for
seriously ill patients was enacted, a
bond issue to create affordable housing was passed,
tougher laws against sexual predators were
established, and our state’s fire safety laws were strengthened;
and
WHEREAS, In addition to
his efforts at the State House, Speaker Murphy is a practicing
attorney with a flourishing law office in downtown
may very well claim that his most brilliant achievement
was to persuade his beautiful wife,
Stacey, to marry him. He and his wife are the very proud parents of two
sons, Ryan and Kyle;
and
WHEREAS, Speaker
Murphy’s leadership and tireless devotion to the citizens of the
Representatives and the people of
the State of
he is a true gentleman who has consistently demonstrated
that honor is something to be earned,
and that all people deserve courtesy and consideration.
And so it is with sadness that we bid
farewell to our colleague and former Speaker, and our good
friend, Representative William
Murphy. He will most assuredly be missed; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED,
That this House of Representatives of the State of
Providence Plantations
hereby honors Speaker Emeritus William J. Murphy for his service in the
Rhode Island General
Assembly. We thank him for a job well done, and extend our sincere
wishes for his continued health, happiness, and success; and
be it further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is
authorized and directed to
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to The
Honorable William J. Murphy.
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LC02894
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