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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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Vendor that supplied voting machines to R.I. says they cannot be manipulated remotely

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Vendor that supplied voting machines to R.I. says they cannot be manipulated remotely

How vulnerable to hackers are Rhode Island’s voting machines? The company that sold Rhode Island its current voting machines, in 2016, has assured Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea that the machines do not have the software with remote-access capabilities. Those capabilities created a stir this past week, in the wake of a recently discovered April letter to a federal lawmaker.

Ethics Commission to put all state, municipal officials’ financial disclosures online

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Ethics Commission to put all state, municipal officials’ financial disclosures online

Soon Rhode Islanders will be able to examine the financial disclosures of appointed and elected officials from the comfort of their couches. The state Ethics Commission on Tuesday agreed to allow Executive Director Jason Gramitt to proceed with an initiative to put the annual financial disclosure statements of more than 4,000 officials and candidates online.

Ethics Commission to put all state, municipal officials’ financial disclosures online

News Clip

Ethics Commission to put all state, municipal officials’ financial disclosures online

Soon Rhode Islanders will be able to examine the financial disclosures of appointed and elected officials from the comfort of their couches. The state Ethics Commission on Tuesday agreed to allow Executive Director Jason Gramitt to proceed with an initiative to put the annual financial disclosure statements of more than 4,000 officials and candidates online.

Political Roundtable: Significance Of SEC Probe For RI

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Political Roundtable: Significance Of SEC Probe For RI

John Marion, executive director of the good government group Common Cause of Rhode Island, joins Political Roundtable to discuss an SEC probe with a Rhode Island link, the recent General Assembly session, and fallout from recent endorsement controveries.

Fear of census common for immigrants in R.I.

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Fear of census common for immigrants in R.I.

Omar Bah had sequestered himself on the back porch of a relative’s home, all the better to work on his doctoral dissertation, when he heard three hard knocks on the door. “They knocked on the door, very hard, like a police knock,” said Bah, an immigrant from The Gambia and executive director of Providence’s Refugee Dream Center.

Probe sought over rent-free offices

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Probe sought over rent-free offices

A government watchdog group wants an investigation into whether a Rhode Island real estate developer tried to curry favor with politicians of both parties by giving them free campaign offices. John Marion, the executive director of Common Cause, filed a campaign finance complaint earlier against Republican gubernatorial candidate Allan W. Fung after WPRI-TV reported that the ...

Trillo says pro-Fung billboards violate campaign-finance law HIDE CAPTION Cranston Mayor Allan Fung has been accused of violating campaign finance law in connection with digital billboards in North Providence endorsing his candidacy for governor. [The Providence Journal, file / Glenn Osmundson]

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Trillo says pro-Fung billboards violate campaign-finance law HIDE CAPTION Cranston Mayor Allan Fung has been accused of violating campaign finance law in connection with digital billboards in North Providence endorsing his candidacy for governor. [The Providence Journal, file / Glenn Osmundson]

Fung’s campaign for Rhode Island governor violated campaign finance law by using digital billboards in North Providence touting his candidacy and not reporting it in campaign finance documents, independent gubernatorial candidate Joe Trillo said Monday.

Governor Gets More CRMC-Appointment Power

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Governor Gets More CRMC-Appointment Power

One of the few environmental bills passed by the General Assembly in 2018 gives the governor greater authority to make appointments to the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC). The changes may seem minor, but the fix to the committee overseeing waterfront development and coastal regulations makes it the last state entity to abide by Rhode Island's separation-of-powers rules.

R.I. General Assembly grinds to conclusion of 2018 legislative session

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R.I. General Assembly grinds to conclusion of 2018 legislative session

The 2018 legislative session that began on a wintry day in January ended just before midnight on Saturday after a daylong flurry of votes on scores of bills still in play right up until the very last moment.

Bill stipulating appointees to R.I. coastal management agency advances

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Bill stipulating appointees to R.I. coastal management agency advances

The legislation, introduced in response to a lawsuit that Save The Bay filed in Superior Court, aims to finally bring the membership of the state Coastal Resources Management Council into compliance with the 2004 separation-of-powers amendment to the state Constitution.

Fung Facing Elections Board Complaints By Raimondo, Morgan & Common Cause

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Fung Facing Elections Board Complaints By Raimondo, Morgan & Common Cause

Two rivals of GOP gubernatorial candidate Allan Fung, Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo and Republican Patricia Morgan, filed complaints Monday against Fung with the state Board of Elections about questions surrounding Fung's campaign headquarters in Cranston. The non-partisan good government group Common Cause of Rhode Island also filed a complaint against Fung.

Raimondo, Morgan file complaints against Fung

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Raimondo, Morgan file complaints against Fung

Gov. Gina Raimondo and Rep. Patricia Morgan have each filed a complaint with the Rhode Island Board of Elections against Cranston Mayor Allan Fung, accusing him of violating the state’s campaign finance laws.

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