Blake Filippi: 20 Who Made a Difference in 2020

Blake Filippi: 20 Who Made a Difference in 2020

Blake Filippi took on the all-powerful Speaker of the House Nick Mattiello. He reestablished the RI Republicans as the opposition and moved away from the ideological Trump narrative. Filippi, the House Minority Leader established himself as highest profile Republican. 

The House Minority Leader stepped up and took a stand in January, when soon-to-be-former Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello ordered an audit of the Rhode Island Convention Center. 

The reason? Mattiello’s close friend and now former Convention Center staffer James Demers was embroiled in controversy — and Mattiello wanted to send a message. 

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Filippi stepped in and called out the fact it was “ordered” by the Joint Committee on Legislative Services — on which Filippi serves. Except for one thing.

The JCLS has body had not met in years — not since Filippi was elected in 2012. 

Filippi sued Mattiello to block what he said was an illegal audit. And while Mattiello announced he was rescinding the ordering of an audit, the damage was done. 

Filippi called for more transparency relating to the control of Rhode Island legislature’s budget — $45.6 million as of the last budget year — under the control of the JCLS 

Will Speaker-elect Joe Shekarchi make the JCLS more transparent? Or will it be more of the same?

Expect to hear more from Filippi on the matter.