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Ethics Commission Adopts Major Reform to Close the Lobbyist Loophole

Press Release

Ethics Commission Adopts Major Reform to Close the Lobbyist Loophole

September 30, 2025

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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Elections officials found dubious signatures on Matos’ nomination papers. Did the system work?

News Clip

Elections officials found dubious signatures on Matos’ nomination papers. Did the system work?

Sloppy? Yes. Illegal? No.

August 1, 2023

Ethics Commission will investigate McKee’s ‘free lunch’ with lobbyist. What to know.

News Clip

Ethics Commission will investigate McKee’s ‘free lunch’ with lobbyist. What to know.

Executive director John Marion's comment on the ethics probe recently launched by the State Ethics Commission into Gov. Dan McKee's January lunch with controversial lobbyists.

July 28, 2023

Board of Elections won’t review disputed signatures on Matos nomination papers

News Clip

Board of Elections won’t review disputed signatures on Matos nomination papers

John Marion discusses a recent signature matching scandal with WPRI.

July 27, 2023

Providence Councilman Juan Pichardo to pay $3k for campaign finance violations

News Clip

Providence Councilman Juan Pichardo to pay $3k for campaign finance violations

John Marion talks to the Globe about Providence Councilman Juan Pichardo's failure to report and misreporting of $20,000 in campaigns funds and expenditures.

July 6, 2023

New crop of RI Traffic Tribunal and Family Court magistrates up for consideration. Here are the names.

News Clip

New crop of RI Traffic Tribunal and Family Court magistrates up for consideration. Here are the names.

John Marion talks with the Providence Journal about "the magistrate loophole" in Rhode Island.

May 17, 2023

‘We needed this yesterday’: An emergency contract award raises many questions in Woonsocket

News Clip

‘We needed this yesterday’: An emergency contract award raises many questions in Woonsocket

John Marion speaks with the Rhode Island Current about a questionable contract awarded in Woonsocket.

May 12, 2023

ID requirement at state building raises concerns

News Clip

ID requirement at state building raises concerns

John Marion talks to WPRI about new identification requirements at a Department of Administration building.

May 12, 2023

On APRA, R.I. attorney general tells public bodies: Accept the facts, not just the fax

News Clip

On APRA, R.I. attorney general tells public bodies: Accept the facts, not just the fax

John Marion talks to the Boston Globe about ARPA requests and public access to government records.

April 26, 2023

Broad Coalition Calls for Same Day Voter Registration in Rhode Island

Press Release

Broad Coalition Calls for Same Day Voter Registration in Rhode Island

Today 30 groups came together to announce their support for the creation of a system for same-day voter registration in Rhode Island.

March 15, 2023

Redboxing 101: How Campaigns & Super PACs Openly Undermine Democracy

News Clip

Redboxing 101: How Campaigns & Super PACs Openly Undermine Democracy

Campaign Legal Center's virtual event, "Redboxing 101: How Campaigns & Super PACs Openly Undermine Democracy," was held on February 17, 2023 and featured panelist discussion of the issue of Redboxing and its impact on federal, state and local elections.

February 21, 2023

In bid for more transparency, changes to RI’s public records law introduced

News Clip

In bid for more transparency, changes to RI’s public records law introduced

An update to the state’s public records law has been filed at the State House, seeking to make government more transparent.

February 21, 2023

Lobbying RI’s part-time legislators is big business. Here’s how big it was in 2022.

News Clip

Lobbying RI’s part-time legislators is big business. Here’s how big it was in 2022.

John Marion discusses the power of lobbying in Rhode Island politics.

February 8, 2023

Demystifying Democracy

Press

Ethics Commission Adopts Major Reform to Close the Lobbyist Loophole

Media Contacts

John Marion

Elections officials found dubious signatures on Matos’ nomination papers. Did the system work?

Ethics Commission will investigate McKee’s ‘free lunch’ with lobbyist. What to know.

Board of Elections won’t review disputed signatures on Matos nomination papers

Providence Councilman Juan Pichardo to pay $3k for campaign finance violations

New crop of RI Traffic Tribunal and Family Court magistrates up for consideration. Here are the names.

‘We needed this yesterday’: An emergency contract award raises many questions in Woonsocket

ID requirement at state building raises concerns

On APRA, R.I. attorney general tells public bodies: Accept the facts, not just the fax

Broad Coalition Calls for Same Day Voter Registration in Rhode Island

Redboxing 101: How Campaigns & Super PACs Openly Undermine Democracy

In bid for more transparency, changes to RI’s public records law introduced

Lobbying RI’s part-time legislators is big business. Here’s how big it was in 2022.

Hello! It looks like you're joining us from {state}.

Ethics Commission Adopts Major Reform to Close the Lobbyist Loophole﻿

Media Contacts

John Marion

Elections officials found dubious signatures on Matos’ nomination papers. Did the system work?

Ethics Commission will investigate McKee’s ‘free lunch’ with lobbyist. What to know.

Board of Elections won’t review disputed signatures on Matos nomination papers

Providence Councilman Juan Pichardo to pay $3k for campaign finance violations

New crop of RI Traffic Tribunal and Family Court magistrates up for consideration. Here are the names.

‘We needed this yesterday’: An emergency contract award raises many questions in Woonsocket

ID requirement at state building raises concerns

On APRA, R.I. attorney general tells public bodies: Accept the facts, not just the fax

Broad Coalition Calls for Same Day Voter Registration in Rhode Island

Redboxing 101: How Campaigns & Super PACs Openly Undermine Democracy

In bid for more transparency, changes to RI’s public records law introduced

Lobbying RI’s part-time legislators is big business. Here’s how big it was in 2022.

Hello! It looks like you're joining us from {state}.

Common Cause is fighting to make a democracy that works for everyone.

Ethics Commission Adopts Major Reform to Close the Lobbyist Loophole