RI GOP Blasts Raimondo Administration on Failed $500M IT Project

RI GOP Blasts Raimondo Administration on Failed $500M IT Project

"This system has disserved many citizens this month by not delivering their benefits on time, and has caused cost and inconvenience for that population by requiring them to go to DHS offices multiple times to stand in day long lines to try to restore their benefits," said Bell. 

He added, "Had a problem like this occurred during a Republican Administration, advocacy organizations would likely have been hanging the Republican Governor in effigy. Instead, there has been nothing but crickets."

Bell question's who is accountable:

(1) Is the Governor going to hold someone responsible for the UHIP fiasco? The State's inability to complete the project on time and within budget raises serious questions about the stewardship of hard earned taxpayer dollars. How can the Governor say RI is attractive to the innovation economy when the State cannot implement a basic user-friendly customer service system to serve some of RI's most vulnerable citizens?

2)  Is Speaker Nick Mattiello too busy trying to smear his opponent than to do his job?  We have known about the drastic UHIP cost overruns for months. Yet the Speaker has not initiated meaningful oversight hearings to get to the bottom of the Governor and EOHHS's handling of this project in orderto protect taxpayers and better serve the needy. Mattiello seems to be more concerned with providing political cover for the Raimondo Administration than doing the people's business.

3) Where are the advocates for those who rely on Rhode Island's social service safety net? The silence from these advocacy organizations is deafening.  

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2016 Raimondo's Staff Salaries

Curren, Meredith

Director of Appointments

$5,000

Rolfe, Catherine

Communications Associate

$36,471

Pellegrino, Angelika

Communications Associate

$36,471

Hytinen, Neil

Legislative Aide

$40,895

Abell, Octavia

Special Assistant to Deputy Chief of Staff

$44,271

Gutierrez, Julia

Protocol Manager

$44,271

Casttriotta, Rebecca

Executive Administrative Asssitant

$47,228

Gering, Catherine

Appointment Special Assitant

$48,715

Natareno, Jason

Special Assistant to the Governor

$48,973

Allard, David

Outreach Manager

$52,272

Manning, Helen

Special Assistant to the Governor

$53,003

Harris, Kelly

Director of Scheduling

$56,694

Inman, Bradford

Director of Constituent Services

$56,694

Poddar, Keshav

Policy Analyst

$56,982

Abelow, Hannah

Policy Analyst

$56,982

Greene, Judith

Legal Administrative Assistant

$59,036

Fondreur, Jennifer

Office Manager

$63,793

Vota, Americo

Community Affairs & Outreach Advisor

$61,751

Desiderato, Ronald

Special Assistant to the Governor

$64,940

Wison, Dana

Executive Assistant to the Governor

$67,508

Nevins, Arthur

Education Policy Advisor

$69,144

Amol Gabriel

Director of Public Engagement

$82,572

Aberger, Marie

Press Secretary

$88,798

Hudson, Heather

Policy Advisor

$93,575

Iannazzi, Andrea

Special Counsel

$98,340

Raia, Mchael

Director of Communications

$122,186

Cheng, Eileen

Deputy Counsel

$122,186

Moses, Amy

Deputy Counsel

$126,951

Bucci, Matthew

Director of Governor's Office

$146,026

Vura-Weis, Lisa

Deputy Chief of Staff

$146,026

Gallagher, Kevin

Deputy Chief of Staff

$146,026

Richards, Claire

Executive Counsel

$155,385

Beane, Eric

Deputy Chief of Staff

$155,564

Smiley, Brett

Chief of Staff

$170,460

Cruise, R.David

Legislative Director

$178,899