Unions Donated Over $25K to State Rep Who Introduced “Protectionist” Fire and Police Bill

Unions Donated Over $25K to State Rep Who Introduced “Protectionist” Fire and Police Bill

State Representative David Bennett has received more than $25,000 in donations from unions and labor political action committees since getting elected, according to a GoLocal review of campaign contributions, following his sponsorship of legislation to allow out-of-state residents to be eligible for state fire and police jobs. 

On Monday, GoLocal ran an editorial calling the legislation pushed by Bennett as "the Stupidest and Most Insulting Bill - Maybe Ever."

Bennett, who first elected to the House in 2010, introduced H-5351, which prohibits municipal charters and ordinances from requiring that police officers and firefighters live in the state (which a GoLocal editorial called “protectionist for a select group of union employees”) — and it recently was approved by the House of Representatives.

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State Representative and Providence Police Sergeant Ray Hull, who recently wrote, “Time for Providence to Reestablish Residency,” spoke to why he opposed Bennett’s bill. 

“The way they presented it, it's ludicrous to say they can't find people in Rhode Island,” said Hull of recruiting candidates. “As you read between the lines -- why does the Senate have the bill for police and fire?” 

Hull was referring to the companion Senate measure by Senator Frank Lombardi.

“And why wasn’t it introduced by someone in public safety? I’ve still got unanswered questions,” said Hull. Bennett works in healthcare. 

Following his election in 2010, Bennett has received tens of thousands in donations from both pubic and private sector labor unions, including health and construction trades, public employees and teachers, and thousands from municipal and state firefighter groups, including Cranston, Providence, and Warwick firefighters unions — and the Rhode Island State Association of Firefighters.

Defending, Opposing Measure

According to the House press office, Bennett said he filed the legislation to “expand the pool of candidates for public safety jobs, and to ensure that the most qualified applicants available can be hired.”

“If we take our commitment to diversity in the ranks seriously, we need to get rid of unnecessary limits on who can be hired. We want more minorities and more women to serve as police and firefighters, and residency requirements have the effect of barring the door for people,” said Bennett (D-Dist. 20, Warwick, Cranston). “Let’s open the door so our departments can attract more candidates.”

Opponents, however, questioned the necessity of such legislation, given a number of factors. 

“If I had to pick, I would be in favor of residency requirements,” said Jim Vincent, President of the NAACP Providence Branch. “To feel you can live in Massachusetts or Connecticut, that’s not a help to public safety.“

“They need to understand the people and know the community, and know the state,” added Vincent. “Take Providence. They get ten extra points towards being a police officer for being from Providence. So a lot of the [recent] applicants were from Providence, more than they had in the past. And they got a qualified, diverse class.”

House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan explained her “no” vote on the measure, which took place on March 23. 

Go HERE for House Vote (Click on March 23)

“My thoughts mirrored Rep Hull’s,” said Republican Morgan, of Democrat Hull. “We have many Rhode Islanders who are un- or under-employed, and we need to look there first. And it makes them more responsible to taxpayers here when they're one of them.”

2016 Donations - Snapshot

In 2016, Bennett faced independent challenger Daniel Elliott.  

Bennett prevailed 2926 votes to Elliott's 2129.

Below are some of the contributions Bennett reported in his 7 Days Before Election report, and for the second quarter of the year. 

7 Days Before Election

* Amalgamated Transit Union $200
* Cranston Firefighters for Public Safety $100
* Gursky Wiens RI LaborLaw PAC $100
* IBEW PAC $500
* Iron Workers Local 37 $50
* Providence RI Central Federated Council $50
* RI AFL-CIO PAC $200
* RI Federation of Teachers PAC $100
* RI Laborers Public Employees PAC $100
* RI National Association of Government Employees $100
* Unite Here $500
* United Food and Commercial Workers $100
* Warwick Firefighters $1,000
* Warwick FOP $100

2016 Q2

* Amalgamated Transit $100
* Building Industry PAC $100
* Construction Industries $100
* Coventry Teachers Alliance $100
* Cranston Firefighters Local 1363 $100
* IBEW Local 2323 PAC $500
* IBEW Local 99 $50
* Iron Workers Local 37 $50
* NEARI Pac $125
* Providence RI Central Federated Council $50
* Providence Teachers COPE $50
* RI AFL CIO PAC $150
* RI Alliance SEIU PAC $50
* RI Brotherhood of Corrections Officers $300
* RI Carpenters PAC $100
* RI Federation of Teachers $100
* RI Healthcare Association $100
* RI Hospital United Nurses $50
* RI Laborer’s Political League $200
* RI Laborer’s State Employees $50
* RI Lumbers Dealers $50
* RI Medical PAC $100
* RI National Association of Government Employees $100
* RI NERCC $100
* RI State Association of Firefighters $100
* RI State Nurses Association $100
* RIALA PAC $50
* RIOA PAC $100
* Teamsters $100
* Twin River $100