Associated Press
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Gov. Gina Raimondo has vetoed a bill to award disability pensions to firefighters who develop heart conditions.
The Democratic governor says the legislation would have been an extraordinary departure from current practice and cost municipalities millions of dollars annually in new pension obligations.
The measure was approved by lawmakers earlier this month during a rare fall session, sending it to Raimondo’s desk.
Raimondo had expressed concerns before. Treasurer Seth Magaziner had urged lawmakers to reject it.
The bill said that if a firefighter who worked for at least three years can’t perform their duties because of heart disease, it’s presumed that their duties caused it.
It’s unclear whether lawmakers will try to override the veto.