Providence Councilman Proposes 'Pay to Play' Reform Plan

Providence Councilman Proposes 'Pay to Play' Reform Plan

A Providence City Councilman has proposed an ordinance that would limit campaign contributions from businesses that have city contracts or plan to have them in the future.

In a weekly letter to his constituents, Ward 2 Councilman Sam Zurier outlined a plan that would “place a ceiling” of $200 each year on the amount any vendor’s employee or owner could contribute to the campaign fund of any elected official responsible for reviewing the contract. A firm-wide limit of $1,000 would also be imposed. The maximum annual individual contribution allowed in Rhode Island is currently $1,000.

“In order to ensure that merit, integrity and cost-effectiveness drive the City’s selection of professionals and vendors, it is important that we sever any link between political contributions and the awarding of city contracts.”

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

Zurier’s proposal, which has been referred to the Council’s Ordinance Committee, is modeled after a law enacted in Montclair, New Jersey. Zurier says similar ordinances have been passed in Connecticut, New Jersey and Illinois as well as New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Jersey City.

Zurier’s ordinance also calls for similar restrictions on individuals and firms for the one-year period preceding any contract awarded by the city. The proposal also restricts related-party transactions, such as contributions from members of the employees’ immediate family, “in order to prevent common approaches to circumvent regulations of this kind,” he wrote.

Although he drew critic earlier this year for requesting a campaign donation after helping a constituent with their sidewalk, Zurier has pushed for good government legislation during his first two years on the City Council. Most recently, he proposed revamping the way the city redraws its wards every decade (this question will be put to voters in November).

 

Dan McGowan can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @danmcgowan.