Common Cause Rankings for Each Member of the RI Senate
GoLocalProv Politics Team
Common Cause Rankings for Each Member of the RI Senate
With the House Finance Committee Chairman's resignation and the controversies tied to Rep. John Carnevale, this may be one of the most controversial years and one poised to transform ethics laws.
In November, voters will be asked to approve Question 2 -- a ballot item, that if approved, will restore the Ethic's Commission's powers over the RI General Assembly.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTOn Saturday, GoLocalProv.com published the voting record of each member of the House of Representatives as ranked by RI Common Cause. Today, we unveil the scores for each of the members of the Rhode Island State Senate.
Common Cause’s Methodology
According to Common Cause:
"Common Cause counted 16 Senate votes (weight equals 25) and 17 House votes (weight equals 32) from the Senate and House Journals in this two-year scorecard. Our lobbying, testimony, printed communications, or emails laid out Common Cause positions on most of the issues. In some cases, amendments proposed on the floor of the House and Senate focused the issue more clearly than final votes, or complimented votes on the entire bill. To better draw distinctions about what votes are most important to Common Cause, this scorecard utilizes a three-point scale for ranking votes:
1 Point – Routine pro-votes or anti-votes based on positions advocated by common cause;
2 Point – Votes that uphold or attack long-standing, clearly enunciated common cause principles; and
3 Point – Votes on legislation or resolutions initiated by common cause, or on issues of critical importance to government reform.
It’s important to note that Common Cause takes positions on issues based on concerns for process rather than issues of substantive public policy. The votes selected for this scorecard reflect that emphasis. A State Governing Board elected by the membership of Common Cause Rhode Island at its Annual Meeting each fall establishes our positions.
The votes are divided into issue areas, including Elections and Campaign Finance, Ethics and Lobbying Reform, Judicial Selection, Open Government and Rules and Separation of Powers. Within these issue areas the number of pro-votes is divided by the total possible in that area (e.g. 3 pro-Common Cause votes out of 4 results is a 75%). On some occasions lawmakers abstain, or recuse, on votes because of potential conflicts. In instances of recusal they are required by law to note the reason for the recusal in the House and Senate Journals.
Since the Rhode Island Supreme Court’s case in the Irons decision, however, no body exists to sanction legislators who do not recuse when they have a conflict. The formula used to calculate the final score is:
(Pro-votes) / ((Pro-votes + Anti-votes) + (Non-voting/2)) = (Final average)
Editor's Note: A previous version did no contain Senator Sheehan's score. The updated version includes his profile.
2016 Common Cause Legislative Rankings - Senators
Final Score: 83%
Dennis Algiere
District: 38
Party: R
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 20
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 0
Final Score: 83%
Stephen Archambault
District: 22
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 20
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 0
Final Score: 73%
Frank Ciccone
District: 7
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 50%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 16
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 4
Final Score: 83%
William Conley, Jr.
District: 18
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 20
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 0
Final Score: 83%
Marc Cote
District: 24
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 20
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 0
Final Score: 81%
Cynthia Coyne
District: 32
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 50%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 19
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 1
Final Score: 70%
Elizabeth Crowley
District: 16
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 0%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 20%
Separation of Government: 100%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 15
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 5
Final Score: 81%
Daniel Da Ponte
District: 14
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 20%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 19
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 1
Final Score: 78%
Louis DiPalma
District: 12
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 33%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 18
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 2
Final Score: 71%
James Doyle
District: 8
Party: D
Ethics: 0%
Campaign Elections: 50%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 20%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 15
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 3
Did not Vote: 6
Final Score: 83%
Walter Felag, Jr.
District: 10
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 20
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 0
Final Score: 83%
Paul Fogarty
District: 23
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 20
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 0
Final Score: 81%
Hanna Gallo
District: 27
Party: D
Ethics: 100 %
Campaign Elections: 50%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 19
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 1
Final Score: 88%
Mark Gee
District: 35
Party: R
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 100%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 21
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 3
Did not Vote: 0
Final Score 83%
Gayle Goldin
District: 3
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 20
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 0
Final Score: 81%
Maryellen Goodwin
District: 1
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 100%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 19
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 1
Final Score: 83%
Paul Jabour
District: 5
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 20
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 0
Final Score: 88%
Nicholas Kettle
District: 21
Party: R
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 100%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 21
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 3
Did not Vote: 0
Final Score: 87%
Frank Lombardi
District: 26
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 20
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 2
Did not Vote: 2
Final Scoe: 83%
Frank Lombardo, III
District: 25
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 20
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 0
Final Score: 83%
Erin Lynch Prata
District: 31
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 20
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 0
Final Score: 78%
Michael McCaffrey
District: 29
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 33%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 18
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 2
Final Score: 83%
Harold Metts
District: 29
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 20
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 0
Final Score: 78%
Joshua Miller
District: 28
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 50%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 20%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 18
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 2
Final Score: 88%
Elaine Morgan
District: 34
Party: R
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 100%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 21
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 3
Did not Vote: 0
Final Score: 78%
Donna Nesselbush
District: 15
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 33%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 18
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 2
Final Score: 88%
Edward O'Neil
District: 17
Party: 1
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 100%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 21
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 3
Did not Vote: 0
Final Score: 77%
Christopher Ottiano
District: 11
Party: R
Ethics: 0%
Campaign Elections: 50%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 40%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 5
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 1
Did not Vote: 1
Final Score: 82%
John Pagliarini Jr.
District: 11
Party: R
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 17%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 14
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 3
Did not Vote: 0
Final Score: 87%
Teresa Paiva Weed
District: 13
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 20
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 2
Did not Vote: 2
Final Score: 83%
Ryan Pearson
District: 19
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 20%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 19
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 3
Did not Vote: 2
Final Score: 83%
Roger Picard
District: 20
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 20%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 19
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 3
Did not Vote: 2
Final Score: 60%
Juan PIchardo
District: 2
Party: D
Ethics: 0%
Campaign Elections: 0%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 20%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 12
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 8
Final Score: 76%
Leonidas Raptakis
District: 33
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 33%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 100%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 17
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 3
Final Score: 81%
Dominick Ruggerio
District: 4
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 50%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 19
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 1
Final Score: 85%
Adam Satchell
District: 9
Party: d
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 20
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 3
Did not Vote: 1
Final Score: 83%
Susan Sosnowski
District: 37
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 24
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 0
Final Score: 83%
James Sheehan
District: 36
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 24
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 4
Did not Vote: 0
Final Score: 85%
William Walaska
District: 30
Party: D
Ethics: 100%
Campaign Elections: 67%
Judicial Reform: NV
Open Government: 60%
Separation of Government: 0%
Pro Common Cause Votes: 20
Anti-Common Cause Votes: 3
Did not Vote: 1
