Is Rhode Island Corrupt?
GoLocalProv News Team and Kate Nagle
Is Rhode Island Corrupt?
Maybe the more important question might be, is Rhode Island more corrupt than other states?
Last week at the GOP Convention, the Chair of the Rhode Island Republican Party went before a national TV audience and announced the delegate count. Brandon Bell’s comments, however, were very different than most state’s remarks. Instead of featuring Rhode Island beaches or great seafood, Bell announced to the country that Rhode Island was undoubtedly politically corrupt.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTWith a string of high profile cases called into question — John Carnevale, Kevin Jackson, and Raymond Gallison all dominating headlines -- is corruption in Rhode Island more prevalent than other states, or does it make for better TV ratings?
“Perceptions matter in a state where nearly everybody has met public figures caught up in scandals. Meanwhile, a depressed economy prompts us to deflect our anger. And adding insult to injury, we’re still paying off pension obligations piled up during the 'candy store' abuses of the 1980s,” said H. Philip West Jr., who served from 1988 to 2006 as Executive Director of Common Cause Rhode Island.
Currently, two of the three named above have not been charged with any crime and none of them have been convicted.
“It is perception, and an easy criticism. It can also be the constant, unfounded drum beat of an insurgent looking to unseat the person or party in power. That does not mean there aren’t ‘bad apples’ that are or have abused their authority, that’s just plain wrong,” said Joe McNamara, Chairman of the Democratic Party in Rhode Island. “But the vast majority of public servants do their work faithfully, honestly and without looking for an unjust reward.”
“Political corruption is intensely covered by journalists, and even instances of local corruption will receive statewide and national play. The more outrageous the instance of corruption, the more heavily it is covered, and with good reason: The dark side of human nature is inherently interesting,” said Val Endress, Professor of Communications at Rhode Island College, who has focused on the issue in her research.
"In turn, such stories are given additional life through social media. Once the public believes that there is a 'culture of corruption,' every instance that is reported reinforces the mindset, and it is very difficult to shake that perception," continued Endress. "Corruption hits hardest close to home, and in a small state like Rhode Island where there are few degrees of separation, it tends to breed feelings of personal betrayal."
According to the Numbers
A University of Illinois at Chicago study published in 2012 found that public corruption in Rhode Island was average. The study looked at public corruption cases brought by the U.S. Attorney’s offices across the country, and found the even when weighting for population, public corruption cases in Rhode Island were not abnormal.
According to the study of federal public corruption convictions weighted by population, Rhode Island ranked 29th. Between 1976 and 2010, there were 83 convictions — a rate of .83 per 10,000 population — far behind Washington, D.C.'s 16.70 (20 times higher than Rhode Island).
Common Cause RI’s Executive Director John Marion warned of reading into studies, even with scientific rigor.
“Corruption is very difficult to measure. There is a lot of subjectivity in defining public corruption. Politicians behaving badly in their private lives isn't actually public corruption if they're not taking advantage of their public office. So many of the embarrassing incidents in Rhode Island will never show up in any measure of public corruption," said Marion.
A 2015 study released by Harvard found that corruption for legislative branches, Rhode Island ranked “very common,” along with nine other states.
The same Harvard study found that corruption in the executive branch was ranked only a 2 out of 5. Rhode Island ranked with 18 other states in a category called “slightly common” and behind 17 other states in which corruption by the legislative branch was more likely.
"Rhode Island has too much corruption, but both the Harvard and [2015's] FiveThirtyEight reports show that we’re far from the worst in the country. While these studies show how hard it is to measure corruption objectively, the state may have come farther than most people recognize. Independent analysts rank Rhode Island’s ethics and open government laws among the best," said West.
By most measures, Massachusetts has a higher degree of public corruption, but their economy is performing far better.
“Economic hard times also feeds the perception of a culture of corruption as citizens look for someone to blame for the downturn, and tend to overestimate their representatives' ability to create jobs and grow the economy. If an office holder is not able to effect positive change, we believe that he or she must be more focused on personal gain than the public good,” said Endress.
We All Know Each Other
As Rhode Island is a city-state, there are very few degrees of separation.
“Our small size certainly plays into the perception of corruption in Rhode Island. Everyone knows what you mean when you talk about the fireplace log and the ashtray or the dumpster at Walt's Roast Beef. With an aggressive press that has long focused on issues of public corruption we have a shared history and narrative,” said Marion.
“They say we’re two degrees of separation from one another in Rhode Island, we also love our state and build generation after generation. It can be a result of our size,” said Rep. McNamara.
Is all the attnention paid to corruption a bad thing?
“One factor people might not consider is that corruption in the news can be a good thing. It means that these institutions we rely on to expose corruption, the U.S. Attorney, the press corps, etc., are doing their jobs well. It certainly beats a situation where there is public corruption that goes unnoticed and is allowed to continue,” said Marion.
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.
