There was a rare degree of bipartisan goodwill during today's State House news conference when Governor Carcieri signed the House and Senate bills outlawing prostitution in Rhode Island. The Republican governor was generous in his kind words for the respective Democratic sponsors, Representative Joanne Giannini and Senator Paul Jabour, calling Giannini a "lioness" in her four years of advocacy for the legislation. Giannini, in turn, credited Sue Carcieri with having boosted her spirits during some down moments. The governor also had warm words for AG Patrick Lynch, and vice versa.

 Other odds and ends:

-- There was a surprising dearth of questions from a relatively robust media contingent. I asked the governor to respond to critics' view -- that the new law will put more poor women behind bars and more prostitutes on the street (Carcieri said prostitution is inherently bad and that the state is overdue in outlawing it.) The AP's Ray Henry asked Lynch and state police Superintendent Brendan Doherty about enforcement of the new law. That was it for questions. Maybe the media is a bit tired of this issue.

-- We typically stake out an early spot at State House news conferences. The only person to arrive before us was Donna Hughes, URI professor and a strong proponent of the new law. In response to a question, she expressed some disbelief that this day would arrive.

-- Lynch and Doherty were reluctant to talk in detail about how law enforcement will respond to the new law, but they promise heightened attention if it is broken at spas and other venues.