First Democratic State Rep. Breaks Ranks with Mattiello—Calls Speaker Reckless and Abusive
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
In a blistering attack, Rhode Island State Representative Raymond Hull is calling Speaker of the House Nick Mattiello reckless and abusive in his actions relating to the Joint Committee on Legislative Servies (JCLS).
Hull is the first Democrat to publicly criticize Mattiello's actions and break ranks.
Last week, House Minority Leader Blake Filippi filled suit against Mattiello claiming that the Speaker's call for an audit of the Convention Center Authority via the JCLS was illegal.
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HULL'S STATEMENT
As the nation watches a Senate impeachment trial of a sitting United States President, one in which the notion of “abuse of power” plays a central role, the people of Rhode Island are getting a firsthand look at a top state official yet again abusing his power for personal reasons.
As Speaker of the House, Nick Mattiello has ruled with fear and intimidation, fiercely punishing critics and any who dare to question his actions. He has contributed to an environment where many women in the Democratic Party, despite the presence of a female Governor, feel that the leadership of the state party is hostile to their concerns and interests. And just last fall, one of his top campaign staffers was indicted on a federal money laundering charge and for making a prohibited campaign contribution. While the Speaker has claimed no knowledge of this, it is impossible to believe that a long-time politician in a fierce re-election campaign was not paying close attention to every element of that campaign.
Now, it seems the Speaker is at again, exercising his office with callous disregard for the public interest in order to settle scores and punish those who do not give in to his wishes.
Speaker Mattiello used the authority of the Joint Committee on Legislative Services to unilaterally order an audit of the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority after that entity took disciplinary action and suspended their chief of security, James Demers. A former member of the RI State Police, Demers is also a close friend and ally of the Speaker.
House Republican leader Blake Filippi, one of the five members of the JCLS objected to the request for an audit, rightfully arguing it had been initiated without the consent of the body or a vote. Once the matter became public, raising questions about the legality of the audit and the need for such a step given the agency is the subject of an annual independent audit and was slated to be audited by the state’s Office of Internal Audit in November of 2020, the Speaker backed off and withdrew the request.
But in typical bully-boy fashion, Speaker Mattiello insists the call for the audit was “the right thing to do,” even as he has reversed course. He has called a lawsuit filed by his Republican colleague on the JCLS over the matter a “political stunt.” This is what happens when bullies get caught doing something wrong—they lash out at those who blow the whistle on their actions and dare to challenge their abusive action.
Unfortunately, this is nothing new. Many of us have seen this time and time again with this Speaker.
As members of the House, we have the authority to stop this. We have the ability to put an end to autocratic rule of a Speaker who is once again bringing his office into disrepute and damaging the institution of the Rhode Island General Assembly. I urge my colleagues to act now, before more scandals come to light, before more reckless actions are taken by a Speaker who clearly feels emboldened to use the power of his office for personal score-settling and to lash out at those who refuse to bend to his will.
The people of Rhode Island deserve better.
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