Government: How the Game is Played

Threats to Elections: Should We Worry?

Monday, March 26 Threats to Elections: Should We Worry?

What are the threats to our voting process? Cam technology make our elections secure?

Speakers:
Robert Rapoza - Executive Director, RI State Board of Elections
Joseph Cammarano - Associate Professor of Political Science, Providence College
John Savage - An Wang Professor of Computer Science, Brown University

Place: Lippitt House Museum, 199 Hope St, Providence
Time: 6:30 - 7: 00 pm, reception, 7:00 - 8:00 speakers

Parking available in the Wheeler School lot across the street.
For wheelchair-access, call Carrie Taylor, 401- 453-0688, ctaylor@preserveri.org
For more information, 401-351-2269, or emhead603@hotmail.com

I know a Guy: Ethics in RI

Monday, March 19, 2018  -
Time: 6:30 - 7: 00 pm, reception, 7:00 - 8:00 speakers

Lippitt House Museum
199 Hope St
Providence, RI 02906

I know a Guy: Ethics in RI.
Do we have a permissive attitude towards corruption? Can politicians self-regulate?

Speakers:
Jason Gramitt - Education Coordinator, RI Ethics Commission
Jim Hummel - Executive Director & Senior Investigator, The Hummel Report
John Dietrich - Professor of Political Science, Bryant University

Parking available in the Wheeler School lot across the street.
For wheelchair-access, call Carrie Taylor, 401- 453-0688 , ctaylor@preserveri.org

Corruption in Rhode Island: Reality and Perception.

How corrupt are we? How does media expose it? What impact on our economy?

Speakers:
Margaret Curran - Former US Attorney for RI
Tracy Breton - Former investigative reporter, Providence Journal
Richard Ratcliffe - Former RI Assistant Attorney General
Grafton (Cap) Willey IV - Tax and Budget Chair, SBA Small Business Summit

Parking available in the Wheeler School lot across the street.
For wheelchair-access, call Carrie Taylor, 401- 453-0688 , ctaylor@preserveri.org

RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity: REJECT QUESTIONS #4-7 over Debt Concerns

RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity recommends that voters "reject" bond Questions #4-7.

The 2016 Ballot Question Voter Guide, released today by the Center, documents how the state's 'interest on debt' burden has already increased by 90% since 2005, almost four-times as much as the national average and double any other known state.

Q1 NO POSITION on the "Tiverton Casino"
Q2 APPROVE Ethics Commission "Constitutional Amendment"
Q3 NO POSITION on "Veterans Home" Bonds
Q4 REJECT Wasteful "Innovation Campus & Higher Ed" bonds
Q5 REJECT Corporate Cronyism "Infrastructure" bonds
Q6 REJECT RhodeMapRI & Property Takeover "Green Economy" bonds
Q7 REJECT RhodeMapRI "Affordable Housing" bonds

State Referendum: Question 2: AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE - Ethics Commission

Restoration of ethics commission jurisdiction over General Assembly members
 Section 8 of Article III and Section 5 of Article VI of the Constitution

Approval of Question 2 would restore ethics panel oversight of R.I. Assembly
By Alisha A. Pina
Journal State House Bureau
Posted Sep 25, 2016 at 11:41 PM 
Updated Sep 25, 2016 at 11:41 PM

Pro: Yes on 2 - Coalition for Ethics Reform

Con: ACLU of Rhode Island Position Paper on Question 2, the Ethics Commission Constitutional Amendment

Mark Patinkin: R.I. taxpayers bankroll union training

By Mark Patinkin
Journal Columnist  
 Posted May. 14, 2016 at 8:29 PM

On the surface, many of the state's controversial community grants seem to be for good causes.
Like $18,000 to an AIDS group and $2,800 to the Samaritans.
But an odd one jumped out at me.

For decades, taxpayers have been giving big bucks to an outfit whose main mission is training union leaders...

"The Institute for Labor Studies has always considered the education of union stewards and labor leaders to be its primary mission."

They even offer classes on how to file a grievance, appeal a denied disability pension and lobby on union issues. That last one's odd since nonprofits aren't supposed to be political, but ILSR is so blatant that one of its courses teaches "collecting money for political campaigns."

Full Story

Proposed Ethics Commission Bill

House Bill 8189

The legislation, which was introduced at a press conference with leadership from both chambers at the State House on Tuesday, May 10, seeks to eliminate legislative immunity from Ethics Commission oversight through a constitutional amendment.

League Day at the State House

At League Day, you’ll learn about the nitty-gritty of the important issues of the 2016 legislative session and what the League has been doing to push forward our agenda. Registration is $10.

The theme of this year’s League Day is Good Government: the Long View.” You’ll come away knowing more about open meetings, access to public records, the history of the Ethics Commission, the “speech in debate” clause in the Code of Ethics, and what the differences are between the major bills now being considered.

The social time will begin at 4:30 followed at 5 with presentations by League members. The panel discussion, which will begin at 6, will be moderated by Linda Levin, president, ACCESS RI. Panelists will include Channel 10’s investigative report Katie Davis, Providence-based journalist Philip Eil, and Common Cause RI Executive Director John Marion. They will provide background on the Access to Public Records Act, Open Meetings Act and amendments to these laws that are currently under consideration by the legislature.

Plan to bring a friend—or two—along, so they can see what we do.
 More information at www.lwvri.org

Former Providence councilwoman tapped for new city job

Dan McGowan, WPRI.com Reporter
Published: July 15, 2015, 12:39 am  Updated: July 15, 2015, 10:02 am

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – The Providence City Council didn’t look far for its latest hire.

City Council President Luis Aponte said Tuesday he has brought in former Councilwoman Balbina Young to work as an “administrator and liaison” to the city clerk’s office, a newly created position in city government. The job, which was not advertised to the public, has a pay range of between $57,000 and $60,000, Aponte said.

“She’s got years and years of institutional knowledge,” Aponte told WPRI.com. “With her years in leadership on the council, she understands the challenges on the council and in the clerk’s office.”  Full Story

Providence Transition Committee Reports

These reports contain valuable input and insight into the needs and priorities of residents and stakeholders throughout Providence. There were 10 subcommittees: City Services; Economic Development; Education; Ethics, Transparency + Open Government; Arts, Culture + Cuisine; Housing + Neighborhood Development; Public Safety; Sports, Recreation + Youth Programming; Strategic Opportunities; and Sustainability.

Transition Committee Report

Also available at: Open Data Portal

Action Alert: Ethics

The League of Women Voters believes that the Ethics Commission must once again have oversight and jurisdiction over the General Assembly.

Representative Marcello’s House Resolution No. 5374 and Senator O’Neill’s Senate Resolution No. 56 are being considered at this moment on Smith Hill. If the legislation passes, voters will decide whether or not to amend the RI Constitution, restoring the jurisdiction of the Ethics Commission over the General Assembly. Contact your representatives and senators and ask them to support these two bills.

For more information:
Call To Action: Strengthen RI's Ethics Commission, LWVRI in Action
Editorial: For ethics oversight, Providence Journal

Secretary of State's Transition Committee Report

Nellie Gorbea's 12 member Transition Committee worked with her to outline important areas to address over the next four years. Their report entitled Restarting Rhode Island is now available. The report’s recommendations have a common goal: develop a stronger connection between Rhode Islanders and their government.  Click here to read more.

League Positions

Impact on Issues is an indispensable resource for League leaders. A clear understanding of LWVUS positions, how they interrelate and how they can complement and reinforce state, local and Inter-League Organization (ILO) positions, will strengthen the League’s “Impact on Issues” at all levels of government.
http://lwv.org/content/impact-issues-online-edition

See League positions on:

Representative Government (includes: Voting Rights, Elections, etc.)

International Relations (includes: Arms Control, Military Spending, etc.)

Natural Resources (includes: Agriculture, Environmental Protection, etc.)

Social Policy (includes: Health Care, Immigration, Gun Control, etc.)

 

Good government groups call on Rhode Island Senate to withdraw ethics resolution

Common Cause Rhode Island, along with the Rhode Island Taxpayers, and the League of Women Voters of Rhode, ask the Rhode Island Senate to withdraw Senate resolution 2824 Sub A as amended. This resolution, which would put a constitutional amendment regarding the jurisdiction of the Ethics Commission over the General Assembly on November’s ballot, has been hopelessly compromised. The groups remain committed to future efforts to fix the loophole created in 2009 by the Rhode Island Supreme Court’s decision in Irons v. Rhode Island Ethics Commission.
Read the editorial in today's (June 4, 2014) ProJo.
http://www.providencejournal.com/opinion/editorials/20140604-ethics-trojan-horse.ece

More

Magistrates and Ethics bills up for Hearings‏

The magistrates bill is up for a hearing today in the House Judiciary and the Ethics amendment is posted for tomorrow(Thursday) in Senate Judiciary.  It's really important that we have our League members and friends of Good Government there. 

John Marion, Executive Director Common Cause RI;  Derry Riding, LWVRI Advocacy chair and I are hoping to see you.  Please wear your League buttons or name-tags.  LWVRI will be submitting testimony. 

Time:  Rise of the House 4:30

For more information on bills and amendments go to:   www.rilin.state.ri.us
Find out time and place meetings are scheduled and links to bill texts click on Committee Agendas
For Bill Text search by bill number for either house or senate or both.

Jane W Koster
President
LWVRI
janewkoster@gmail.com
mobile (401) 339 2351