Rhode Island GOP: Unethical Ethics Commission Covers for Corrupt Democratic Governor

Corruption is to Rhode Island what water is to fish.

The state pretty much survives on the pernicious misuse of power for private or special interest gain.

Gina Raimondo, the former Treasure and now incumbent Governor of Rhode Island is skirting ethical inquiries as the main levers of power in the state continue to cover for her.

We need Allan Fung on Smith Hill and we need to get rid of Raimondo for good!

For Immediate Release February 27, 2018

ETHICS COMMISSION MAKES EXCUSES FOR RAIMONDO

Warwick, RI - In response to the Ethics Commission’s decision to dismiss the R.I. Republican Party’s complaint against Governor Gina Raimondo, Rhode Island Republican Party Chairman Brandon S. Bell commented: “We are disappointed with the decision of the Ethics Commission not to investigate Raimondo’s fundraising deal with a state employee her administration recently hired. First, the Ethics Commission ignored the fact that Patrick Ward himself, not the office of Chairman of the Providence Democratic City Committee, was specifically named in the agreement as having control as to how the funds would be spent. The Ethics Commissions ignored the fact that under prior advisory rulings Ward would be considered a business associate of Raimondo since they were working together to achieve a common financial objective under the agreement. Second, the Ethics Commission decided to interpret the term ‘subordinate’ in its regulations very narrowly. According to Ethics Commission’s decision, Governor Raimondo’s subordinates are only those individuals who work in the Governor Office or are persons she directly appointed to lead a state agency. The Ethics Commission ignored the fact that Mr. Ward is a subordinate of Governor Raimondo’s appointee at the Department of Human Services or that a few months after Mr. Ward was hired by Raimondo’s appointee at DHS, he entered into a financial transaction with Governor Raimondo.” Bell concluded: “By its decision today, the Ethics Commission is saying Governor Raimondo can enter into a secret financial deal with a state employee as long as (1) the deal states it is with a group the state employee controls rather than the employee himself, and (2) the state employee answers to her appointee instead of her. We do not think these technicalities make Governor Raimondo’s conduct somehow ethical.”

Rhode Island Republican Party | 1800 Post Rd, Ste 17-I | (401) 732-8282 |  WWW.RI.GOP

Rhode Island GOP to PawSox: Show Us The Money

For Immediate Release

PAWSOX OWNERS NEED TO SHOW RI THE MONEY

Warwick, RI - According to recent news reports, the PawSox ownership, which is still refusing to publicly disclose their profit and loss statements, is reporting losses, writing down the value of the team, and needs more money than the team currently generates in order to pay off any stadium bonds. Meanwhile, the R.I. Secretary of State appears to be investigating the failure of advocates for building a new PawSox stadium to disclose in reports a $171,400 lobbying campaign, which was funded, in part, by the PawSox.   In response, Rhode Island Republican Party Chairman Brandon S. Bell commented: “The current owners of the PawSox paid more for the team than it was actually worth, and they are now reporting losses. As a result, the PawSox owners are secretly spending thousands to lobby for Rhode Island taxpayers to spend millions to build them a new stadium to bail them out.” Bell concluded: “The PawSox ownership won’t publicly disclose their profit and loss statements and have been hiding their financial involvement in a lobbying effort to get Rhode Island taxpayers to bail them out. Rhode Island taxpayers deserve to know all the facts about the PawSox’s financial condition and the extent to which the PawSox ownership has attempted to influence legislators. Until the PawSox’s profit and loss statements are made public and until a thorough investigation of the lobbying efforts by the PawSox and their allies is completed, the General Assembly should not even consider voting on any legislation for the PawSox. Secret finances and hidden lobbying efforts remind me of 38 Studios.”  

Rhode Island Republican Party | 1800 Post Rd, Ste 17-I | (401) 732-8282 |  WWW.RI.GOP

Rhode Island GOP: Thank President Trump, Gov. Raimondo!

For Immediate Release

GOVERNOR, SAY THANK YOU TO TRUMP

Warwick, RI - For months now Governor Gina Raimondo and her Rhode Island Democratic allies have been non-stop in their criticism of President Donald J. Trump. Today, we learned that Infosys, an India based company, will locate some jobs here in Rhode Island. According to multiple national news reports, Infosys pledged to move jobs back to the United States after President Donald J. Trump took steps to reform the work visa programs that Infosys and other out-sourcing companies use.  Rhode Island Republican Party Chairman Brandon S. Bell commented: “Infosys is now locating jobs here in America because of the efforts of the Trump administration. Governor Raimondo should acknowledge this and thank President Trump for his efforts. Without the Trump administration’s efforts, Infosys would not be bringing jobs to Rhode Island. Raimondo likes to blame President Trump for Rhode Island’s failures under her leadership. Maybe Raimondo can give at least some credit to President Trump for these new Rhode Island jobs. Governor, it’s time for you to say thank you to President Trump.”

Rhode Island Republican Party | 1800 Post Rd, Ste 17-I | (401) 732-8282 |  WWW.RI.GOP

Rhode Island GOP Calls Out Dem. Governor's Abuse of Food Stamp Program

Rhode Island's Neediest to be Rescued by a Special Master

Warwick, RI -Today Chief U.S. District Court Judge William Smith appointed a Special Master to fix the food stamp delays. Basically, Judge Smith gave Rhode Islanders a new temporary governor for UHIP since Governor Raimondo has failed to do her job. RI Republican Party Chairman Brandon S. Bell commented: "The UHIP system has failed Rhode Island's most neediest citizens for more than a year. Since she launched the system against the feds' advice, Governor Raimondo has shuffled several of her patronage appointees to make it look like she was holding people accountable. Also, she has not fired Deloitte." Bell added, while Governor Raimondo continues to attend out of state fundraisers and spend on her taxpayer funded PR staff, our neediest are counting on a new leader, Special Master Sherman, to get them through the last days of Raimondo's reign." Bell concluded: "Fortunately a new Governor will be in place soon. The millions that will be spent by Raimondo on her re-election campaign will not change the fact that under her watch people went without the most basic necessities."

RIGOP Exposes Corruption and Sexual Perversion of Democratic Party

For Immediate Release

IT’S MORE THAN HARASSMENT, IT’S CORRUPTION

Warwick, RI -Today we learned from State Representative Edith Ajello that legislators and lobbyists have been asked for sexual favors in exchange for help moving their legislation. This revelation comes after State Representative Teresa Tanzi’s statement that she was harassed by a high ranking State House official and was told that sexual favors would help her bills go further. In response, House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello has created a study commission. Rhode Island Republican Party Chairman Brandon S. Bell commented: “This has gone beyond being an issue of workplace harassment. This is now an issue of corruption at the State House. There is no difference between a legislator asking for sex to support a bill than a legislator asking for a bag of cash to vote for a bill. The Rhode Island State House sounds like the center of a sex trade racket.”  Bell concluded: “Speaker Mattiello has not denied that this sort of behavior is going on at the State House, but he has not taken any steps to expose and remove from power the perpetrators of this corrupt sex-for-legislation racket. Instead he wants a study commission on harassment. We don’t need a study commission to stop corruption. We need state and federal law enforcement to investigate, and bring these politicians to justice.”

RI GOP: Rep. Patricia Morgan Leads Small Business Forum

RI Federation of Republican Women hosts a Small Business Forum with House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan.  Rebecca Schiff will moderate the panel as we learn about the laws, policies, and regulations that are hurting RI businesses and the uphill battle of the Republican Caucus, led by Representative Patricia Morgan, to make RI competitive in today's changed economy.  Members & Non-Members Welcome Light Refreshments will be served Donations appreciated but not required

Rhode Island Republican Party: Keep Your Paws off Tax Dollars for Pawtucket Pawsox Stadium

NO DEAL ON A $38 MILLION DOLLAR TAXPAYER SUBSIDIZED STADIUM

Two years after taxpayers widely rejected a $120 million taxpayer subsidized ballpark, the PawSox have come crawling back.  This time the PawSox owners are asking for a $38 million taxpayer subsidy ($23 million from state taxpayers and $15 million from Pawtucket taxpayers) to build a new ballpark.  

In response, Republican Party Chairman Brandon S. Bell stated: "This proposal is simply a bad idea.  Rhode Island taxpayers cannot afford to subsidize a new ballpark.  Rhode Island taxpayers are facing a budget revenue shortfall of about $100 million dollars.  Speaker Nicholas Mattiello is back tracking on his campaign promise to eliminate the car tax by saying he needs six years instead of five years to eliminate it.  Governor Gina Raimondo is talking about the possibility of cuts to social services to balance the budget. Does Mattiello and Raimondo really want to explain to the voters how they postponed car tax relief and pushed for cuts to social services while giving millionaires $38 million to build a new ballpark?!"

Bell continued:  "We all know that ballparks do not lead to economic development   In 2015, PolitiFact confirmed the assertion made by Steven Frias, the R.I. Republican National Committeeman, that: "Research performed by economists has shown no consistent, positive impact on jobs, income or tax revenues arising from stadiums or sports franchises."  

 

Bell concluded: "It is ironic that the Pawsox owners are now asking for a $38 million dollar taxpayer subsidy. The number 38 reminds Rhode Islanders of 38 Studios: the bright idea of a former Red Sox pitcher and some clueless politicians that cost Rhode Island taxpayers millions."  

Rhode Island GOP: No Providential Bailouts with Higher Taxes!

STOP THE BAIL OUT OF PROVIDENCE THROUGH A HIDDEN WATER TAX On Tuesday, there will be a hearing at the House Corporations Committee on House Bill 6122. This bill will create a regional water authority but it really aims to give more money to the City of Providence by increasing the water bills of any customer who purchases water from Providence Water directly or indirectly in such communities as Providence, Cranston, North Providence, Johnston, Smithfield, East Providence, Bristol, Warren, Barrington, Warwick, Coventry, East Greenwich, West Greenwich and West Warwick. The proposed legislation specifically prohibits state regulators from using "any purchase payment, lease payment, or management fee payment" for the Providence Water system "to benefit directly or indirectly of the ratepayers" of the Providence Water system. Instead any payment will go the City of Providence although the customers of the Providence Water in fact paid for the water system. Rhode Island Republican Party Chairman Brandon S. Bell commented: "This ridiculous bill is just a scheme to bail out the City of Providence by hiking up the water bills of customers across Rhode Island. This was explained four years ago by Steven Frias, the R.I. Republican National Committeeman, in a column entitled "A hidden tax on the water you drink" regarding a comparable piece of legislation. Speaker Nicholas Mattiello and Governor Gina Raimondo should speak out against this bill. Rhode Islanders pay enough in taxes. We do not need to pay a hidden water tax to bail out the City of Providence."