EDITORIAL: Loughlin’s Proposal for an Inspector General Has Rocked the State House Insiders

EDITORIAL: Loughlin’s Proposal for an Inspector General Has Rocked the State House Insiders

Lt. Governor candidate John Loughlin has sent the State House scrambling.

 

On Monday, he held a press conference and outlined how he would transform the do-nothing Lieutenant Governor’s office into an Inspector General’s office to review spending in state government.

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Loughlin, a moderate Republican, is no DOGE empty suit; he is a thoughtful Rhode Islander who spent much of his life serving in the United States Army. This is not an endorsement of Loughlin for the election, but it is an endorsement of him coming up with a smart idea. 

 

He outlined on Monday how the office could change the game in the state.

 

 “Rhode Islanders are sick and tired of watching their tax dollars disappear into a black hole of inefficiency, cronyism, and outright corruption while the General Assembly talks a big game but delivers nothing — year after year after year,” said Loughlin.

 

“For more than two decades, the legislature has failed to create a true Inspector General with real investigative power. Enough is enough. If they won’t do it, the Lieutenant Governor’s Office will — starting on Day One.”

 

Now, less than four days later, the House leadership went scrambling to announce that after more than two decades of fighting the proposal, they are now going to propose their own bill.

 

At 3:00 PM today, newly appointed Speaker Christopher Blazejewski announced that he will introduce legislation to create an Office of the Independent Inspector General. He doesn't have the bill yet.

 

WOW.

 

For 20 years, the House leadership has blocked passage of legislation creating an Inspector General's office, but now, just days after Loughlin, someone outside of the House leadership’s control, Blazejewski, is fired up for reform.  By the way, Blazejewski has been in the #2 position in the House for the past five years, and there has been no reform.

 

Blazejewski cites that he has co-sponsored efforts in the past, but clearly was ineffective in passing the reform.

 

“Rhode Island is facing a moment that demands a new approach.  With the passage of HR1, our federal government has made drastic changes to essential programs, and Rhode Island families will feel it,” said Blazejewski. “Cuts to Medicaid, to food assistance, to the federal programs helping those who are struggling -- these changes mean our state will be asked to get by with far less federal support, at the same time that federal oversight of how we spend every remaining dollar is tightening. The margin for error is far less than it has ever been before.”

 

Kudos to Loughlin for coming up with a smart new structure for the Lt. Governor’s office.

 

We are skeptical of the new Speaker’s reform effort.