EDITORIAL: Mattiello the Reformer—and More Can Be Done
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Like it or not, the most progressive pro-ethics elected official in Rhode Island over the past decade has been Nick Mattiello.
Two of the biggest political abuses that have plagued Rhode Island for years have been the master lever and that the legislature did not fall under the purview of the Rhode Island Ethics Commission.
These political abuses were not corrected by Republicans or Democrats that preceded him. They were not changed by progressives like Gordon Fox and Lincoln Chafee or conservatives like Don Carcieri. Gina Raimondo did not fix them or even use the bully pulpit as Treasurer or Governor. Nor did Attorney General Peter Kilmartin, Lt. Governor Dan McKee, Nellie Gorbea or Seth Magaziner. All functionally mute.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTReformers -- and Action
The elimination of the master lever may have been sparked by Ken Block and John Hazen White, but it was Mattiello who shepherded the legislation through the General Assembly and made it law.
The restoration of the General Assembly under the authority of the Ethics Commission is now being corrected by Speaker Mattiello. Not done yet, but if you believe the adage that the Speaker is all powerful in Rhode Island, then it is just a matter of week before legislation is passed and the question goes before voters in November for a constitutional amendment.
While many have called for reform, it has taken Mattiello to make the change take place. Unlike, others who have been in office for years, in his two years as Speaker he is fostered more ethics change than any other elected official in decades — a very un-Speaker approach to government.
While others talk about reform, Mattiello has done it.
More to be Done
The elimination of master lever and correcting the jurisdiction of the Ethics Commission are two critical steps forward, but more needs to be done. The legislative grant process needs to be reformed. The process needs to be rolled into the budget process and allow the entire body vote up or down on the merits of the appropriations. If the individual grants are worthy, then they will be approved. Moreover, for everyone's protection, professional fiscal staff can review the application and vet the organization.
In addition, Rhode Island should join forty-four other states and adopt a line-item veto power for the governor. It is reasonable and responsible fiscal management.
Mattiello has helped to reform Rhode Island with two of the most meaningful changes in the past decade. He has the rare opportunity to define his tenure as that of the most reform-minded and progressive Speakers in modern state history.
Related Articles
- UPDATED: Legislation to Restore Ethics Commission Oversight of General Assembly Introduced
- Moore: RI Has Bigger Ethics Issues Than Lally’s Job
- Ethics Leaders Call for PawSox to be Fined for Failing to Register as Lobbyists
- Ethics Rules & Oversight Should Apply to General Assembly-But They Don’t!
- Fox Fallout: Corruption, Ethics, and the Future of Politics in RI
- NEW: Solomon Fined by Ethics Commission
- Ethics of the Plagiarism Industry
- GOP Chair Bell Calls Mattiello Public Enemy #1 on Ethics
- Will This Be the Year an Ethics Amendment Passes the RI General Assembly?
- Ethics Commission Fines Woonsocket Mayor for Hiring Son
- Sheehan Blasts Speaker on Ethics Legislation and Mattiello Fires Right Back
- NEW: Solomon Apologizes for Clerical Error in Ethics Filings, Claims Lead in Polls
- Pawtucket Looking at Possible Criminal Intent Over Ethics Allegations Released
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Sen. Sheehan: Ethics Reform - or a Festering Status Quo
- The Scoop: Elorza Unveils Ethics Agenda, Latest Endorsements Announced, and More
- Pawtucket Mayor Has Stalled on Sending Potential Violations to Ethics
- Moore: Call on Mattiello to Pass Ethics Bill
- Ethics Complaint Filed Against Cicilline’s Sister
- RI Taxpayers Urges Passage of Bill to Eliminate Master Lever
- NEW: Ken Block Says Master Lever May Have Helped Fox Avoid Defeat
- NEW: Speaker Fox Comes Out in Favor of the Master Lever
- Don Roach: Is The Master Lever So Bad?
- Do You Favor the Elimination of the Master Lever for Party Voting
- Dan Lawlor: Magicians of the Master Lever
- Taylor Praises Mollis for Change of Position on Master Lever
- Will RI Kill the Master Lever?
- Ken Block: The Master Lever Challenge to RI Legislators
- State Report: Racial Profiling, Master Lever Ban + 38 Studios
- John Perilli: RI Can Get an Easy Win if Senate Kills Master Lever
- NEW: Block Praises Passage of Master Lever Bill by Senate Judiciary
- Master Lever Accounts for 40 Percent of Providence Votes: See the Numbers
- Can Buddy Beat the Master Lever?
- John Hazen White’s LOOKOUT: RI Senate Must Act on Master Lever
- Don Roach: The Master Lever Has to Go
- Russell Moore: Master Lever is GOP’s Scapegoat
- GRAPHIC Election 2014: Democrats Least Likely To Pull Master Lever
