Campaign finance violations are soaring. Here’s why that’s not a bad thing.

This article originally appeared in the Rhode Island Current on August 4, 2023 and was written by Nancy Levin.  

John Marion, executive director for Common Cause Rhode Island, describes the bevy of law changes as the “post-Gordon Fox reform,” referring to the former Rhode Island House Speaker who was sentenced to three years in federal prison in 2015 after pleading guilty to bribery, wire fraud and tax evasion.

“I think the number 1 reason you’re seeing more violations is thanks to the post-Gordon Fox reforms, which make it easier for the Board of Elections to spot when there is a violation,” Marion said. “It may look like more people are cheating, but the reality is, people may have been cheating all along, we’re just catching them more.” 

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