Issue Position: Transparency in Government

Issue Position

A transparent and accountable government will play a crucial role in Rhode Island's economic recovery. For the future success of our existing businesses, and to attract successful new businesses to our state, it is essential that our government processes be clear, understandable and easy to access. It is equally important that our government processes be beyond reproach. Public corruption, or even the perception of public corruption, will not only keep new businesses and jobs away from Rhode Island, but also drive our successful and existing businesses to seek other states where the rule of law governs over political favoritism.

I have a four step plan for putting Rhode Island at the forefront of clean and accountable government:

1. Enact the toughest public corruption laws in the country.

* Public corruption will be a top priority of my administration. Recent cases at the state landfill, North Providence City Council and in the city of Central Falls have cost the state tens of millions of dollars and will potentially cost even more in prosecution and remedial costs. But more importantly instances like these shake the confidence of Rhode Islanders in our government and drives jobs out of our state. Rhode Islanders must take a stand against public corruption of any kind, and we can start by enacting and enforcing the toughest public corruption laws in the country.

2. Put All Government Spending Online in Real Time

* Rhode Islanders need to know how their government is spending their hard earned tax dollars. That is why, as Treasurer, one of my first goals in office was to put all the state spending in my office online in a user friendly fashion for all Rhode Islanders to see exactly how their tax dollars were being handled. As Governor, I will do the same with all state departments so Rhode Islanders can see exactly what every single department in this state is doing with their money.

3. Improve Legislative Accountability and Transparency

* I support legislation requiring real time recording and reporting of all votes of the General Assembly. The technology exists today and it has been implemented in many other states. Rhode Islanders deserve to know how their representatives are voting on all matters before the legislature.
* I support re-establishing the jurisdiction of the Ethics Commission over all public officials, including the General Assembly. Legislation to accomplish this initiative passed the House during the last session by a vote of 68 to 5, but was stalled in the Senate. As Governor, I will make sure that this legislation gets through the Senate and signed into law and we will hold our public officials accountable.
* I support stricter legislative process rules that require proper public notice and public hearings before a legislative vote is allowed. The "waiver" of process rules that occurs at the end of the legislative sessions each year permits hundreds of pieces of legislation to slide through the legislature at the last minute without proper opportunity for Rhode Island citizens to have even the slightest input. These waiver rules should be eliminated in all but the most extreme circumstances (i.e. public safety circumstances).

4. Eliminate the Master Lever

* Eliminating the Master Lever will make our elections more competitive and encourage voters to seek more information on candidates prior to voting.

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