Moore: RI Reformers Winning Big This Year
Monday, June 06, 2016
This year is quietly turning out to be a smashing success for good government reformers.
The people who fight to make Rhode Island's state and local governments transparent, ethical, and honest so that it benefits the collective good of all Rhode Islanders, and not just the private interests of a few, well-connected families, are having themselves quite a good year.
When the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled that state legislators couldn't be subject to the authority of the Rhode Island ethics in 2009 in the William Irons ruling, it seemed like the issue would be rectified quickly. Former House Speaker Gordon Fox submitted a bill to fix the issue. His bill would have asked voters to restore full authority to the RI Ethics Commission through a constitutional amendment.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIt was an excellent bill that easily passed the House of Representatives. However, it died in the state senate.
That was 6 years ago. Since then, good government reformers and like-minded state legislators have worked tirelessly to achieve that end--but with no success.
Big Wins
A few weeks ago, both House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello and Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed endorsed a bill that would ask voters to reinstate the power of the ethics commission over the state legislature by amending the state constitution this November, but with a so-called "blackout period" during from the time after candidate declarations until after the election.
Some have criticized the bill, like the Providence Journal editorial board, calling it an "incumbent protection plan". While I personally agree that the bill would be stronger without it, it shouldn't be looked at as a deal breaker. There's no reason to make the perfect and the good enemies, and this bill does much good. It deserves everyone's support.
As long as human beings are running it, the government will never be perfect. And, of course, the bills that the state legislature passes could always be better and more to the liking of the good government advocates.
Legislative Grants
Similarly, it should please good government advocates that both the House Speaker and Senate President will hold a press conference today to discuss their attempts to address issues with legislative grants.
The legislative grants have garnered a ton of press this year since former House Finance Chairman Ray Gallison was forced to step down amidst legal problems. Gallison ran a non-profit organization that was the recipient of legislative grants for almost the last decade. That's brought the microscope onto the grants, and apparently forced legislative leadership to address the issue.
It remains to be seen what will be done, but I'm assuming we'll at least see regular audits of how the money is being spent. That's another major step forward.
Surely, good government reformers will be disappointed that the line-item veto apparently won't become a reality in this legislative session. While I understand the rationale behind the advocacy, I don't see it as a major issue like the ethics bill and the legislative grants. The Mayor of Providence has a line item veto, and it hasn't even been used since Buddy Cianci held office. (Though the threat of it does influence legislative negotiations, I suppose.)
Term Limits Next?
If the legislative grants are significantly reformed and the power of the ethics commission is reformed, the next major push from good government reformers should be term limits for legislators. If they're ok for our general office holders, why not have them for legislators?
That should be the next big fight. But fortunately, the good government folks appear to be gaining significant ground this year. That's cause for celebration.
Russell Moore has worked on both sides of the desk in Rhode Island media, both for newspapers and on political campaigns. Send him email at russmoore713. Follow him on twitter @russmoore713.
Related Slideshow: Ethics Complaint O’Brien - 2016
Related Articles
- Moore: Fitch’s Providence Downgrade is Overdue
- Moore: “Rhode Island is Famous For You,” Buddy
- Moore: Fetishes and LSD - Raimondo’s Controversial Appointments
- Moore: Time To Legalize Marijuana
- Moore: Providence’s Commercial Tax Conundrum
- Moore: Brookings Recommendations Would Be Costly
- Moore: GE Decision Shows RI Must Be Business Friendly
- Moore: Relocation Expert Says RI Can Lure GE
- Moore: Rhode Island Needs a Holiday!
- Moore: End Providence Pension Spiking
- Moore: Unlike RI, Puerto Rico Takes on Ratings Agencies
- Moore: Mount Saint Charles Sends The Wrong Message
- Moore: Trump and Sanders Appeal to the Disenfranchised
- Moore: Federal Hill’s Parking Meter Lesson
- Moore: Elorza’s Budget Doesn’t Match His Rhetoric
- Moore: The Real Ethics Reform Heroes Aren’t Legislative Leadership
- Moore: A Bad News Week For RI Reformers
- Moore: Cynicism Dominates RI Politics
- Moore: I Still Think Clinton Wins RI Tomorrow
- Moore: Elorza Releases Devastating Report; Is Anyone Listening?
- Moore: Apple’s Prudent Resistance to FBI Overreach
- Moore: Deep-Seated Issues in the Elorza Administration Arise
- Moore: Marketing Fiasco Symbolizes RI Government Dysfunction
- Moore: Raimondo is Not Wrong to Hire Out-of-State Vendors