Is Lt. Governor Doing Her Job?
Saturday, October 09, 2010
Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts has left vacancies on at least seven state boards and commissions which are her responsibility to fill according to state law—raising new questions about the need for a state office that some say should be eliminated.
“Having a job with so little function, you would think that the office would at least spend the hour or two required to either appoint people to these seats or seek to eliminate them from state law,” said her opponent for the office, independent Robert Healey. He is running to eliminate what he says is a useless state office.
A GoLocalProv review of seven boards and commissions found that there was no current appointee from the lieutenant governor. For example, the last appointments to the Committee on Naval Affairs, the Plastic Recycling and Littering Commission, and the American Irish Cultural Exchange Commission were made by her predecessor, Charles Fogarty. (See complete list below.)
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Roberts, a Democrat, has been in the office since 2007.
Filling those boards and commissions are not her sole responsibility. The GoLocalProv review of membership found numerous other vacancies as well. Members are also appointed by other state officials, including the House Speaker, Senate President, and Governor.
Those seven boards and commissions with vacancies are now “defunct,” according to Roberts spokeswoman Maria Tocco. She said they have not met since 2004. “As such, there have been no requests for appointments and no appointments made,” Tocco told GoLocalProv.
That leaves three commissions in which Roberts is actively involved: the Long Term Care Coordinating Council, Emergency Management Advisory Council, and Small Business Advocacy Council. “The Lt. Governor chairs each of the above three councils, they meet regularly, and are actively engaged in solving problems for Rhode Islanders,” Tocco said.
Healey: boards and commissions have no power
Healey was dismissive of the significance of those three councils. “It’s all talk,” Healey said. “There’s no power in any of these boards or commissions.”
At least in the case of the first council, on long-term care, there are more than ten tasks outlined in state law. The council is tasked with making recommendations on standards and quality performance, enforcement of regulations, and funding for long-term care services—among other responsibilities.
On her campaign Web site, Roberts also touts her work on helping to implement national health care reform; expand her Buy Local RI initiative, which she says will help local businesses; and support plans by Brown University and IBM to establish an IBM supercomputing center in Rhode Island.
State Boards and Commissions with Vacancies
Below is a list of state boards and commissions with vacancies which the lieutenant governor has not filled. The relevant state statute is listed next to each one. Click here to view the status of these boards and commissions on the Secretary of State's online database.
21-27.1-3 Plastic Recycling and Littering Commission
23-25.2-3 Pesticide Relief Advisory Board
30-29-1 Committee on Naval Affairs
35-15-3 Savings Bond Advisory Board
40-17-5 Commission on the Homeless
42-65-1 American Irish Cultural Exchange Commission
42-71-1 American and Italian Cultural Exchange Commission
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