By Associated Press - Tuesday, January 21, 2014

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The Republican leader of the Rhode Island House says lawmakers should know how much their legislation would cost or save taxpayers before they vote.

House Minority Leader Brian Newberry said Tuesday he plans to introduce a bill this week that would require legislative staffers to prepare estimates on a proposal’s fiscal impact.

Now, lawmakers often vote on complicated legislation with only rough guesses about the effect on state finances. Newberry says that of 289 bills reviewed by the House Finance Committee last year, only 21 came with fiscal notes.

Newberry, a North Smithfield Republican, says lawmakers would make better decisions if they knew how their legislation impacted state finances.

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