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Ethics Commission Adopts Major Reform to Close the Lobbyist Loophole

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Ethics Commission Adopts Major Reform to Close the Lobbyist Loophole

Today the Rhode Island Ethics Commission voted to amend the Code of Ethics to close a loophole that allows public officials and employees to take unlimited gifts from lobbyists. The Commission did this at the request of Common Cause Rhode Island which filed a petition to close the loophole. This is the first time since 2012 that the Commission has voted to strengthen the state’s ethics laws.

Media Contacts

John Marion

Executive Director, Rhode Island
jmarion@commoncause.org
401-861-2322

Common Cause Rhode Island frequently provides commentary on democracy reform issues. To talk with John Marion please reach out using the contact information above.

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Editorial: Fighting for a better R.I.

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Editorial: Fighting for a better R.I.

Each year, Rhode Island citizens mount a brave fight to get a line-item veto on the ballot. The annual ritual brings out the worst in House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello.

R.I. House committee urged to put line-item veto on ballot

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R.I. House committee urged to put line-item veto on ballot

Two-time candidate for governor Ken Block made his annual pilgrimage to the State House on Tuesday to urge reluctant lawmakers to give the governor a “line-item veto″ over the final General Assembly-passed budget.

R.I. officials see voting crises on horizon

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R.I. officials see voting crises on horizon

The 2020 calendar puts Rhode Island’s September primary so close to the general election the state might violate a federal deadline to get ballots to troops serving overseas. And, surging demand to vote before Election Day is swamping the state Board of Elections and city halls in cumbersome “emergency mail ballots.”

The Hummel Report: Principle or personal? Costs soar in R.I. public-records battle

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The Hummel Report: Principle or personal? Costs soar in R.I. public-records battle

The state Board of Elections has spent more than $12,000 over the last 10 months defending its decision to charge former gubernatorial candidate Ken Block $410 to fulfill a public-records request. Is the fight a matter of principle and legal precedent for the board, or an act of retaliation against a longtime adversary?

Much on the Line with Redrawing RI’s Legislative Districts

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Much on the Line with Redrawing RI’s Legislative Districts

For Rhode Island election reform advocates, the problem isn’t the firm that was hired to do the study, but the system that gives Assembly leaders effective control over the shape of their colleagues’ districts.

Convicted former Rep. Carnevale to be released from home confinement Monday

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Convicted former Rep. Carnevale to be released from home confinement Monday

Convicted former state Rep. John Carnevale will be released early from home confinement thanks to more than two months of so-called "good time" credits he has earned, the Target 12 Investigators have learned.

Transparency Under Assault

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Transparency Under Assault

Lynn Farinelli is a Pawtucket stay-at-home mom. Dimitri Lyssikatos is a Providence mechanic. They were strangers until they shared online their frustrations with the Pawtucket police department withholding internal-affairs reports.

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