Unions Full Court Press to Block PawSox Deal Going Before Voters
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Rhode Island unions are threatening, cajoling, and are holding back campaign donations in order to block an effort by Speaker of the House Nick Mattiello and other legislators to allow the voters to determine the fate of the unpopular proposed $82 million funding scheme for the proposed PawSox stadium.
The PawSox are requiring Rhode Islanders to provide approximately $40 million in subsidies for their new stadium.
Union bosses have made it clear they are boycotting Mattiello and other House Democrats fundraisers unless they agree to hold a vote on the PawSox deal.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"Look, we're asking for a vote, and you'll see the building trades send the message that we want a vote. That's all we want -- and of course their support as well. If we can't get a vote on the floor I don't think you'll see labor support anyone from the Speaker down who didn't want a vote," said Michael Sabitoni of the RI Building and Construction Trades Council. "How can I spend political action money if we can't get a vote on the floor? It's one person worried about his own re-election -- I think you can safely say there'll be a lot of attention, over attention, on this week."
In response, Mattiello replied, “Fund-raising is an unpleasant part of the job but it is necessary to get elected. I appreciate those who support me and my House colleagues and the work that we do on behalf of the people of our state. I believe it is inappropriate to demand a certain outcome and tie it to fund-raising. The more points of view that are expressed to elected officials on all the issues, the better the outcome. I will continue to enact policies that best serve the people.”
Mattiello, who fought off a challenge by GOP candidate Steve Frias in 2016, may face Frias again in 2018. Mattiello won by less than 100 votes in 2016 and in recent months Frias has gone door-to-door in the district Mattiello’s represents.
“I am listening very closely to the viewpoint of the people in my district, as well as the opinions that my House colleagues are hearing in their districts, on the issue of expending public funding for a new Pawtucket Red Sox' stadium. If we have learned anything from the 38 Studios' debacle, it is that the public must be fully informed before considering moral obligation bonds,” said Mattiello.
“One of the options the House is considering is putting this issue to the voters in a referendum. Should the Senate pass their stadium bill, the House Finance Committee will hold a hearing on their bill in the near future. We encourage the public to continue to express their views and contact members of the House Finance Committee, which will be making a recommendation to the full House, on this issue,” added Mattiello.
Mattiello’s District 15 is representative of voters across the State. In October GoLocal released polling by Harvard’s John Della Volpe which found little support for public funding for the stadium. SEE THE FULL POLLING RESULTS BELOW.
Unions Demanding Action
The battle for the control of the State House is playing out over the PawSox stadium plan's approval.
Senate Finance Committee Chair William Conley issued a statement on Saturday that said, “Resorting to referendum because an important public policy matter is difficult or controversial is a betrayal of the fundamental principles of representative democracy. As elected representatives and leaders, it is our responsibility to study and debate complex public policy questions on behalf of our constituents. It is what we are elected to do."
"You can look at when I've come on [GoLocal LIVE] to see what I've said. The timing is one thing, another is that public bond votes are usually extremely complex are complex and large --
schools and roads -- and there are a bunch coming out this year," said Sabitoni.
"If start doing things of this nature -- putting the PawSox on the ballot -- where does it end?" said Sabitoni. "If you start to line up who's in favor and not in favor of, there's just one guy opposed [to a General Assembly vote]. Everyone from the Governor, Lt. Governor, Treasurer, Secretary, and Mayors -- who's not it favor? If Mattiello doesn't like it he should go down and vote like everyone."
"I expect it to come out of Senate tomorrow, and I think there'll be a lot of attention put on House and Speaker -- and he'll get it from Blackstone Valley caucus, who I was told he promised an up or down vote if it came over," said Sabitoni.
Related Slideshow: GoLocal: Benchmark Poll, October 2017
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