Gencarella: RI’s Fall From Grace Has Been A Long Time Coming
Pam Gencarella, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™
Gencarella: RI’s Fall From Grace Has Been A Long Time Coming
Meanwhile, Back At The Ranch…
The reason it is so important for real reform is because, after 70 years of the same single-party rule, RI state government simply doesn’t work for us, the taxpaying public. A straightforward example is the fact that more than 10% of Rhode Islanders don’t have their state tax refund yet. That is an abomination. But this is just the tip of the state government iceberg. It is widely known that the DMV cannot get out of its own way, the Medicaid system remains bloated and ripe with abuse and the same goes for the state’s welfare system. Of course there is no need to highlight the failings of the DOT. The Governor herself excoriated the long-standing inefficient and ineffective practices of that department when she first proposed RhodeWorks.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAnd then there’s RI’s education system. It is so far behind our closest neighbor, Massachusetts, its beyond embarrassing. The travesty here is that the General Assembly has taken one bright spot - education reform - and turned it on its head and now threatens a second bright spot - charter schools - proposing to virtually dismantle them with undermining legislation.
Another big government loser is HealthSource RI, the Obamacare Exchange. HealthSource RI has recently lost a competitor, United Health. And while the pickings were pretty slim with 3 choices, Rhode Islanders now have only 2 choices - Neighborhood Health and Blue Cross. Obamacare was supposed to provide insureds with more choices, but in RI, it has simply become a Medicaid portal. And it seems to be on its way to becoming a single payer system if you follow legislation that has been proposed to this effect and the governor’s hiring of single-payer crusader Anya Rader Wallack (originally tapped to head up HealthSource RI, she has since been moved to head up the Medicaid program).
Every facet of RI state government seems to inject more harm than good into our economy. Yet, this year, our state government decided to take a billion of our money, claiming they have addressed the long-standing problems that have plagued the DOT, to ‘fix’ our roads and bridges. Of course that came with a plan for a new funding stream - truck tolls - and more debt.
Worst of all, in a state where the economy is stagnant and its nearly impossible to lure companies here to set up shop, RI government has no respect for private industry. Our government completely ignored the fact that the trucking industry would be decimated with the implementation of truck tolls and moved forward anyway (remember, VP Biden came to RI and basically said about the trucking industry, ’let them eat cake’).
In a recent OpEd, the President and CEO of Lifespan, Tim Babineau, wrote about the financial problems it faces with the interference of government - cuts in Medicaid reimbursement rates and state-mandated caps on insurance increases. The state forced caps in a free market does nothing but shift the cost to you and me. Here, the costs are shifted to the hospitals, providing ‘free’ healthcare to a significant number of people (many of whom are illegal aliens). But nothing is free, so the taxpayer absorbs these costs either through state reimbursement of uncompensated care or in the higher rates for our health policies.
So what’s a fella to do?
The travesty is that we keep paying more and more and receiving less and less in services. Worthy government support services like DCYF and support for the disabled are cut year after year in an effort to maintain the status quo in the corrupt systems of our government. We need changes at every level.
The only hope we have is a drastic change in the General Assembly, a move away from the single-party rule. The only resource we have at our disposal is the ballot box come November.
Ten Things to Know About Gallison Scandal
#1
Mattiello Says Cancelled Fundraiser Was Tip-Off That Something Was Up
While rumors had been mounting recently at the State House regarding Gallison’s ties to a prostitution scandal, Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello told reporters on Tuesday that he was first tipped off to something being amiss after learning last Thursday that Gallison canceled an upcoming fundraiser on short notice.
According to campaign finance reports, Gallison had just under $10,000 cash on hand as of the last filing period. He ran unopposed in both the Democratic primary and General Election in 2014.
#2
Mattiello and Gallison Met on Sunday — at Newport Creamery
Mattiello said that he met with Gallison on Sunday at the Newport Creamery in Cranston, to discuss the beleaguered [now former] legislative leader’s legal issues - and ultimately his resignation from his elected position.
Also present at the Sunday meeting was Mattiello’s Chief-of-Staff Leo Skenyon; the official resignation letter from Gallison to Mattiello made public on Tuesday, and was dated Tuesday May 3.
#3
Recent Hometown Hero
Just last year, Gallison, a Bristol resident, had been the Bristol 4th of July Parade's Chief Marshal.
The coveted position is an honor, as the parade is part of the oldest Independence Day celebration in the country (with the year Gallison served marking the 230th annual Independence Day celebration in Bristol.)
#4
Gallison Had Been Previously Cited, Fined by Ethics, Board of Elections
In 2007, the Rhode Island Ethics Commission docked Gallison with a civil penalty of $6,000 after he failed to disclose his employment with The College Readiness Program.
Gallison was fined $1,600 by the state's Board of Elections earlier this year for misrepresention of campaign contributions.
#5
Gallison’s Lawyer Tied to Corso - and Patriarca
As GoLocal reported on Tuesday, Gallison engaged the legal services of criminal defense attorney Anthony M. Traini.
The same Traini has represented Michael Corso before the Secretary of State’s office regarding improper lobbying activity around 38 Studios and has represented at least one defendant with ties to the Patriarca crime family.
#6
Mattiello Confirms Investigation -- State Police, U.S. Attorney’s Office Mum
On Monday, news broke that Gallison was going to be resigning from his post amidst criminal allegations.
Mattiello put rumors to bed on Tuesday by confirming on the House floor that a federal investigation into Gallison's affairs is indeed taking place (Mattiello stopped short of what sources are saying, and that is a federal grand jury is currently underway).
Top local law enforcement offices unsurprisingly were less than forthcoming on Tuesday, with both Jim Martin in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Col. Steven O’Donnell telling GoLocal they had no comment on the matter at this time.
#7
Ethics Now Under Greater Scrutiny
Proponents for an ethics amendment in the state — to restore oversight of General Assembly members to the State Ethics Commission — are touting this week’s latest developments as prover proof for the need for action to be taken this year.
“All fifty states outlaw legislators’ conflicts-of-interest, but Rhode Island is one of a small number where citizens cannot file complaints against state representatives and senators for specific conflicts. Seven years ago, the state Supreme Court immunized members of the General Assembly against prosecution for their 'core legislative duties.' This huge loophole prevents the Ethics Commission from investigating or prosecuting 113 state legislators. Meanwhile, thousands of other public officials across Rhode Island remain accountable and subject to fines up to $25,000 for each specific violation,” said historian and author H. Philip West Jr. who is the former head of Common Cause RI.
Democratic State Senator James Sheehan, who has been pushing for legislation to pass this session, weighed in on Tuesday.
“I think that Rhode Island has been ripe. Public and elected officials have been working hard to improve the state's economy, and what goes hand in glove with that is a government's responsibility to maintain a level playing field,” said Sheehan. “The public needs to feel their elected officials are playing the rules. We need to restore the public's trust. What's disconcerting is it's human nature that we need to follow rules. In an atmosphere without rules you'll see a disintegration of conduct."
#8
Mattiello to Closely Scrutinize Legislative Grants
Gallison lists being on staff of Alternative Educational Programming Inc., a mentoring program that over the past ten years has gotten hundreds of thousands of dollars through community service grants from the House Finance Committee (which he had chaired up until this week.)
In the wake of Gallison’s resignation, Mattiello said he will be reviewing the grant process - and possibly cutting out small community groups that lack a sufficient “administration” capacity.
“Right now we’re doing an audit of them,” said Mattiello on Tuesday. “Some of the smaller organizations that don’t have the necessary administrative systems, I have concerns with. You’ll see grants being cut out, the smaller ones I might get rid of.”
#9
Major Shake-ups
On Monday, GoLocal reported that Rep. Marvin Abney would be assuming the chairmanship of the House Finance Committee after Gallison resigned.
On Tuesday, House Speaker Mattiello announced over a half dozen appointments, with Abney being just one.
* Rep. Patricia Serpa, Chairwoman, Oversight Committee
* Rep. Deborah Ruggiero, Chairwoman, Small Business Committee (Vice, Rep. Serpa)
* Rep. Robert Jacquard, Speaker Pro Tempore
* Rep. Gregory Costantino, Deputy Majority Leader (Vice, Rep. Jacquard)
* Rep. Raymond Johnston, Deputy Majority Leader (Vice, Rep Abney)
* Rep. Michael Morin, Member, House Finance Committee (Vice, Moren, HEW)
#10
Seat Stays Empty
Because Gallison is stepping down when he is, there will be no special election to replace him prior to November.
If the vacancy occurs after the first Monday in February in the second year of the biennial period for which a general assembly was chosen, no warrant shall be issued for a special election to fill the vacancy.
So under state law, there will not be a special election to fill Gallison’s seat because he is resigning after the first Monday in February of an election year. All 113 General Assembly seats will be on the ballot in November.
