Democracy Wire

After every election, the Rhode Island House and Senate set their rules. Those rules determine everything from when a bill can be introduced, to how a legislator can cast their vote. Over the course of decades in the House of Representatives, those rules have been used to consolidate power in the hands of the Speaker.

A move toward a more transparent legislative process from common Cause Rhode Island

New house and senate rules in Rhode Island with information from Common Cause

the state legislature pushed through a law restricting collective bargaining rights for public workers, Common Cause reports

Common Cause Rhode Island worked with other government reform groups to put committee votes online.

Officials need to disclose travel expenses