Multiple sources have reported that the police union members involved in the Rhode Island pension reform lawsuit have voted the proposed settlement down in the first stage of a two stage approval process. According to the arcane rules in place, rejection by one of six different plaintiff groups means the settlement is not supposed to go forward. Judge Sarah Taft-Carter has responded by (what else?) ordering the parties back into secret mediation.

Ian Donnis of Rhode Island Public Radio has posted an unofficial tally of the vote provided by “spokesman for the coalition of plaintiffs in the case” Ray Sullivan…

Teachers: 7,442 eligible, 2,320 ballots received: 31% vote to reject
Retirees: 6,840 eligible, 1,810 ballots received: 26% vote to reject
State: 5,045 eligible,1,697 ballots received: 34% vote to reject
Municipal: 3,261 eligible, 504 ballots received: 15% vote to reject
Fire: 619 eligible, 170 ballots received: 27% vote to reject
Police: 417 eligible, 254 ballots received: 61% vote to reject

It is becoming extremely difficult at this point to see how a “settlement” process could be finished in time for the General Assembly to act on legislation, prior to the end of the session that’s supposed to finish up in early June.