Democratic Reps Call for Caucus for Mattiello to Explain "Dark Cloud" Hanging Over State House
GoLocalProv Political Team
Democratic Reps Call for Caucus for Mattiello to Explain "Dark Cloud" Hanging Over State House
As GoLocalProv.com reported last week, the Rhode Island State Police are looking into actions by Mattiello’s office, in its effort to influence and minimize disciplinary actions by the Rhode Island Convention Center and its management group against James Demers.
Demers, the Convention Center's Security Director, has been a close personal friend of Mattiello and Demers’ son works in the State House. Demers had been placed on administrative leave, before Mattiello called for -- and rescinded an "illegal" audit.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe representatives calling for a caucus for an explanation from Mattiello include Teresa Tanzi, Kathleen Fogarty, Moira Walsh, John Lombardi, and Raymond Hull.
“For those of us who have been on the receiving end of the Speaker’s bullying, we empathize with the Convention Center Board and with our Republican colleagues. This is not how a democracy is supposed to operate,” said Walsh.
“We are calling for a caucus at which the Speaker can explain the dark cloud that hangs over the House. If he can’t adequately explain his actions, then it is time for new leadership. As elected members of the House, we cannot stand by and allow the public’s trust in this institution to further deteriorate,” said Lombardi.
Dem Reps Call for Caucus
The call for a caucus comes amidst controversy regarding the Joint Committee on Legislative Services (JCLS).
“When is enough, enough? It is probably when the Rhode Island State Police are searching State House dumpsters in the dead of night. It seems like every week there is a new inquiry or investigation into unethical or illegal behavior in the House. We are calling for a Democratic Caucus to address the current state of affairs in the Rhode Island House of Representatives,” said Fogarty.
Mattiello's spokesman Larry Berman issued the following statement Monday night after State Police were investigating the possible dumping of JCLS files in a dumpster outside of the State House -- first reported by GoLocal.
"An employee in the JCLS office discovered black mold under her desk last week, and she was moved into another office. A steam leak was determined to be the cause of the mold. The JCLS office was evacuated today, the carpet was ripped out, and furniture and partitions contaminated by the mold were thrown out. All the employees were relocated while the repair work is being undertaken. The Department of Administration, which is in charge of the building maintenance, is supervising the project and is coordinating the effort," said Berman.
On Wednesday, as GoLocalProv reported, the cleanup company Single Source, was hired to remove the mold from the State House by the JCLS -- and has ties to both Mattiello and Majority Leader Joseph Shekarchi.
Mattiello Responds
On Wednesday, Mattiello's office said there are "no plans" for a caucus.
“Speaker Mattiello has the support of the vast majority of the members of the Democratic Caucus," said spokesperson Larry Berman. "These five members have not been supportive of the Speaker, so this statement from them is no surprise. There are no plans to hold a caucus.”