Newly Ordered RI Convention Center Audit Possibly Illegal, Says Common Cause’s Marion
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Common Cause Rhode Island Executive Director John Marion said that the recent announcement by Auditor General Dennis Hoyle that the Joint Committee on Legislative Services (JCLS) authorized an audit of the Rhode Island Convention Center -- without meeting -- could be in violation of state law.
House Minority Leader Blake Filippi, who serves on the JCLS along with four other members of House and Senate leadership, told GoLocal that the JLCS has never met since was elected, and certainly did not meet to authorize a Convention Center audit.
As GoLocal reported, JCLS controls an annual budget of $45.6 million.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“In my 11 years at Common Cause I've only seen JCLS meet as a committee twice; once to approve paying the legal bill of a disgraced former legislator, and the other time to hire the man who gerrymanders our political districts,” said Marion. “JCLS controls tens of millions of dollars and more than 100 employees, but never really meets. That means its decision-making process is opaque.”
“However, there are decisions that require a vote of the committee, theoretically creating transparency. One of those is the decision to order a performance audit of a state agency or quasi-public,” said Marion.
“In the case of the Convention Center audit ordered by the JCLS it appears that public vote never happened. Since there is no penalty for violating that law it remains unclear what will happen,” said Marion. “Certainly a majority of the committee (three members) could force a public meeting and call the question.”
JCLS Members
On Tuesday, House Majority Leader Joe Shekarchi and Senate Minority Leader Dennis Algiere — both members of the JCLS — did not respond to request for comment.
“To the best of my knowledge, every Senate President has sought equal representation on JCLS,” said Senate President Dominick Ruggerio. “The Senate has passed legislation to bring parity to the committee and requested meetings in the past.”
Ruggerio refused, however, to answer questions on whether he thought the JCLS was operating in a transparent — or legal — manner.
Related Articles
- NEW: Common Cause Files Ethics Violation Against Palumbo
- Common Cause Scorecard: How Did Each Senator Do?
- The Scoop: Common Cause Calls Again for People’s Pledge and More
- Common Cause RI Testifies in Support of Restoring Ethics Commission Oversight
- Mattiello “Terminates” Community Service Grants, Common Cause RI Says Details Matter
- Common Cause Scorecard: How Did Each House Representative Do?
- NEW: Common Cause Calls on Speaker Candidates to Hold Ethics Vote
- NEW: ACLU, Common Cause Criticize Chafee for not Releasing Report
- NEW: Fox, Common Cause Respond To Surprising Ethics Bill Decision
- NEW: Common Cause Launches Website to Reverse Ethics Bill Decision
- Rhode Island Common Cause Calls for Chafee to Withdraw Mancuso
- Speaker Mattiello, Convention Center’s Demers & State House Staffers Linked By Their Sons’ Baseball
- Common Cause RI Applauds Passage of Ethics Reform
- Common Cause, League of Women Voters, ACLU Call on Kilmartin to Release 38 Studios Records
- Common Cause’s Marion Discusses Magistrate Reform, Redistricting & Early Voting
- Tuesday on LIVE: “CHEFS” Director Hart And RI Common Cause’s Marion
- VIDEO: Common Cause RI Criticizes Senate Chair for Blocking Non-Profit Testimony at Hearing
- Common Cause Raises Concerns Over Influence of Top Mattiello Staffer Over Hemp Legislation
- RI GOP: $450 Million Spent on Convention Center Red Flag for PawSox Deal
- RI House GOP Warns of New Convention Center Lease Lessons
- Morgan Talks RI Convention Center, Google Money, and Truck Tolls on GoLocal LIVE
- RI GOP: Convention Center Contracts Warning Sign for PawSox Deal
- Common Cause Praises Raimondo for Signing Automatic Voter Registration Act
- Common Cause Releases Statement on Charges Against Rep. Gallison
- Common Cause Rankings for Each Member of the House
- Common Cause Rankings for Each Member of the RI Senate
- Mattiello, Common Cause Leading Fight to Pass Question #2 — Concerns About MA Ballot Item Confusion
- “Troubling and Disconcerting” - Common Cause’s Marion on Narragansett Town Council Violations
