5 Big Challenges Facing Speaker Mattiello in 2020
GoLocalProv News Team
5 Big Challenges Facing Speaker Mattiello in 2020
But, as Mattiello approaches his sixth year as Speaker, Mattiello faces a growing number of complexities.
In March of 2014, the Rhode Island State Police and the FBI raided then-Speaker of the Gordon Fox and within hours, Mattiello put together the votes to topple Fox.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTNow, Mattiello is facing a number of complexities and challenges of his own.
"I hope these shining renovations set a tone for what I hope will be another successful legislative session. We will produce a balanced budget that addresses all of society’s needs," said Mattiello in opening the session and referring to the multi-million dollar restoration of the House and Senate Chambers.
Mattiello immediately addressed what is always his top priority -- the budget.
"Our House Finance Committee has been monitoring the budget very carefully. While we look forward to the Governor’s budget submission later this month, we hope that her administration is following corrective action plans to tighten the spending in some departments," said Mattiello. "We have provided the necessary funding to take care of the most vulnerable among us, including children and those individuals who are intellectually challenged under the state’s care, the sick and the elderly, and our veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country."
"These funds need to be managed properly in order to take care of people who need it the most," he said.
Public policy issues, challenges from progressives and budget-shortfalls may be the least of his problems.
BELOW ARE FIVE MAJOR CHALLENGES FACING MATTIELLO
5 Big Challenges Facing Speaker Mattiello in 2020
Britt Factor
According to court documents filed by the Rhode Island Attorney General, Mattiello and his political infrastructure are all on the potential witness list in the state’s case against Mattiello’s consultant Jeff Britt, which is now scheduled to begin on March 10, 2020.
Britt was charged by the Rhode Island Attorney General in October for a felony money laundering charge, which carries a sentence of up to 20 years, as well as lesser charges.
Besides Mattiello, other potential witnesses are Mattiello Chief-of-Staff Leo Skenyon, who heads the list along with former top Mattiello staffer Matt Jerzyk, of those who may be called to testify
GoLocal unveiled in October that Jerzyk and Grant Pilkington, Deputy Chief to Speaker Mattiello are business partners in a hemp company. According to state records, Pilkington earns more than $88,000 a year at the State House.
Other potential witnesses include:
- Mattiello Spokesman Larry Berman
- Now Senate aide and then-Mattiello aide Jake Bissaillon
- Mattiello consultant Ed Cotugno, who worked on the 2016 campaign. His son is a staffer to Mattiello.
Raimondo Wants to Revisit Car Tax Repeal
Governor Gina Raimondo has put Mattiello's top legislative accomplishment -- the repeal of the car tax -- back on the table.
Mattiello, however, made clear on Tuesday he wants to protect his priority.
At the opening of the session, Mattiello said, "I am committed to the elimination of the car tax, and I fully expect the funding for the fourth year of the six-year phase-out will be enacted according to schedule this spring. Our constituents deserve to have this onerous tax eliminated."
IGT, Twin River, and Lobbyist Ties
The proposal to extend IGT's lottery contract for 20 years is under challenge from Twin River casino.
Lobbying for Twin River are many of Mattiello's closest allies including Matt Jerzyk and the controversial Mark Ryan.
Mattiello and Ryan's relationship has come under criticism.
As GoLocal reported in October:
WPRO talk show host Dan Yorke said on air that the Providence Journal’s coverage of Twin River's effort to secure the state’s lottery contract is biased -- and is being influenced by a former newspaper executive who is now a lobbyist for the casino company.
“The Journal is on the take,” said York.
LISTEN TO THE AUDIO FROM WPRO HERE
Yorke said that the newspaper’s journalism and especially their editorials are tainted due to the influence of former Providence Journal Executive Vice President and Legal Counsel Mark Ryan who lobbies at the State House for Twin River. According to Ryan's bio, "he remains a consultant to the publisher of the Providence Journal Company."
Ryan is paid $5,000 a month by casino company Twin River, in its effort to dethrone IGT as the state's exclusive lottery contractor. Ryan also lobbies for the newspaper industry, National Grid, Hasbro and the marijuana industry.
Ryan according to multiple State House sources is a close ally of Speaker of the House Nick Mattiello.
Frias or Fenton-Fung
Republican Steve Frias has given Mattiello two tough challenges in 2016 and 2018. He could run again.
In addition, Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung could make a run. There has been talk around town of her squaring off to face Democrat Mattiello in Cranston House District 15.
While Fenton-Fung will be one to watch in 2020 — keep an eye on state GOP machinations. The party clearly hasn’t recovered from the bruising 2018 campaign season, but a Presidential election year could help change that.
Mark Ryan
Mark Ryan is the lobbyist closest to the Speaker. Now, his relationship with the marijuana industry has come under scrutiny.
He is also lobbying for the newspaper industry to protect the mandate for legal notices, at a cost of more than $700,000 for cities and towns as well as state agencies.
In addition, he is the lobbyist for Hasbro, Twin River, and National Grid -- three companies that are lightning rods.
Hasbro may seek a significant deal to stay in RI and build a new headquarters; Twin River is seeking to disrupt the IGT Lottery deal; and National Grid is fighting off efforts by renewable energy companies to force Grid to move quicker in connecting to projects to the grid.
