Common Cause Raises Concerns Over Influence of Top Mattiello Staffer Over Hemp Legislation

Common Cause Raises Concerns Over Influence of Top Mattiello Staffer Over Hemp Legislation

As GoLocal first reported on Wednesday, Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello's Deputy Chief of Staff Grant Pilkington is an owner in American Standard Hemp — a company whose other “key officers” include some of the most influential and powerful players in the Rhode Island State House.  Now, Common Cause is raising concerns about potential conflicts.

“Pilkington's ownership stake in American Standard Hemp raises numerous red flags. In June the House of Representatives passed significant changes to the Hemp Growth Act as part of the state budget,” said John Marion, Executive Director of Common Cause.

Pilkington has had a meteoric rise in Mattiello’s office. In the 2016 campaign, Pilkington was a paid campaign worker of Mattiello earning $6,824 over a six month period.

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Around January 1 of 2017, he joined the Mattiello State House office as a staffer. State records show he is now paid $88,000 and has risen to Deputy Chief of Staff.

“If Mr. Pilkington was involved in any way with that legislation it could very well represent a conflict of interest given his ownership stake. It raises greater suspicions because the House inserted language in this year's budget that allows the General Assembly to veto any regulations issued by the Department of Business Regulations with regard to the Hemp Growth Act,” said Marion.

The state law regulating hemp was dramatically amended shifting the final approval of regulations from the RI Department of Business Regulation to the General Assembly.

The law now reads, “The department [DBR] may adopt rules and regulations based on federal law provided those rules and regulations are designed to comply with federal guidance and mitigate federal enforcement against the licenses issued under this chapter. All new and revised rules and regulations promulgated by the department of business regulation and/or the department of health pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to approval by the general assembly prior to enactment.”

The requirement of final approval of the department’s regulation is precedent-setting in Rhode Island.

“We believe this is an unconstitutional power-grab on the part of the House of Representatives. GoLocal's reporting raises important questions about the motives behind that legislation,” added Marion.

Other “key players” in the company include:

* Matt Jerzyk, former top Mattiello aide, and now a State House Lobbyist. He also serves at City Solicitor in Central Falls. According to reports, he is involved in the ongoing grand jury investigation into the 2016 mailer.

Jerzyk is a lobbyist for Twin River, Uber and Bank of America. Efforts to reach Jerzyk were unsuccessful.

* William “Will” Farrell, a top State House lobbyist who is partners with Jerzyk. He previously was a top aide to Providence Mayor Angel Taveras. Farrell reached for comment declined to comment.

SODCO — a Rhode Island licensed  “grow and handler” is listed in American Standard Hemp’s application to the state as a “key partner.” SODCO is led by former Republican State Representative and GOP candidate for Rhode Island Attorney General Dawson Tucker Hodgson.