In Case You Missed It: RI’s Controversial Legislative Grants
Saturday, August 17, 2013
"In Case You Missed It," GoLocal's Saturday feature, puts the week's top stories in one easy place for you to review and read. Check out what dominated the news cycle this week in Rhode Island and get all the details with these easy links.
State lawmakers last year issued $1.9 million in legislative grants that go to charities and community organizations but are under fire by critics who say the grants are a thinly-veiled effort to buy votes and win influence at the Statehouse.
The largest grant, $150,000, went to Crossroads Rhode Island. The second highest, $100,000 was awarded to the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence. But most grants are for a few thousand dollars or less, largely going to charitable causes like senior centers, soup kitchens, neighborhood associations, arts and music organizations, and other similar organizations, according to state records for the fiscal year that ended June 30.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTTo read more about RI lawmakers shelling out, go here.
An accompanying slideshow laid out how many legislative grants were issued, by who, for how much, and to whom. Lawmakers say the grants go to local charities and nonprofits, like soup kitchens and Little League associations, but critics beg to differ.
The grants are nonpartisan. They are awarded by House Speaker Gordon Fox and Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed. Organizations have to apply for the grants and individual state reps and senators have to request the money on their behalf. House and Senate leaders racked up the most, followed by their top lieutenants and committee chairs in both chambers. Below are the top 25 lawmakers who obtained the most grants.
To read more about RI lawmakers shelling out, go here.
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