Lobbyist Hired By Montanaro to Be Spokesman About His $50,000 in Free Education
Thursday, June 22, 2017
The bizarre case involving one of Speaker Nick Mattiello’s staffers took an even more unusual twist when Frank Montanaro - who has been under fire for taking $50,000 of free education - hired a registered lobbyist to be his spokesperson.
Bill Fischer, who represents ProvPort, marijuana interests (the Blackstone Valley Compassion Center), the Grocery Manufacturers, and one of the more controversial alternative education associations, issued a press statement for the Speaker’s staffer. Fischer is also a paid consultant to the management team for the Superman Building.
Personal Hiring
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAccording to Fischer, Montanaro hired him personally to serve as his PR spokesperson.
Larry Berman, Director of Communications for the Speaker and Montanaro’s co-worker, affirmed that no taxpayer dollars were used, but neither Fischer or Berman would disclose if Fischer was being paid or if being paid, how much.
Neither responded to the question if there was a potential appearance of conflict to have a significant paid lobbyist to be the spokesman for a high level member of the Mattiello staff.
The issue of Montanaro’s free tuition payments was first reported by WPRI.
Returning the Money
On Thursday, Fischer on behalf of Montanaro issued the following statement:
As a Rhode Island College employee, my contract enabled me to take leave-to-protect status when I was named the executive director of the Joint Committee on Legislative Services in June of 2014. As a RIC employee on leave, I was able to receive the tuition waiver benefit.
In order to ensure the tuition waiver was properly obtained, I consulted with a labor attorney, Joseph Penza, who reviewed the pertinent documents and concluded the tuition waiver was appropriate. Although this was a contractual right, the public has determined the decision I made on behalf of my family was inappropriate. These past few days of public scrutiny have allowed me and my family to revisit the decision we made to exercise the tuition waiver benefit.
After consultation with my family and Speaker Mattiello, I believe the best thing to do is return the monetary equivalent of the tuition benefit my children received after I transitioned to my new role at the General Assembly. I will be contacting Rhode Island College tomorrow to make the necessary arrangements.
As an employee of the General Assembly, I want to apologize for the distraction this matter has caused over the past few days. My initial response to media inquiries missed the mark and I now realize the negative perceptions that have manifested with the general public.
After Fischer issued the statement from Montanaro, Mattiello issued the following, ““I had a conversation with Frank and I believe he has done the right thing by agreeing to pay the money back.”
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