Got Ethics?

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<h1 style="text-align: center;">Legislative Alert</h1>
 
Speaker Finally Sees The Light On Real Ethics Reform.
As the adage says, better late than never. After firmly committing to the idea that the General Assembly was in no need of Ethics Commission oversight, Speaker Mattiello could no longer dismiss the irrefutable need for real ethics reform. The explosive development that former Representative Gallison was paid with funds received from the state’s embattled legislative grant program was an embarrassment for all Rhode Islanders, but more importantly, was a catalyst for the pressure put on the Speaker to fix RI government, particularly in an election year.   
Two Ethics bills will be heard on Tuesday, May 17th (see schedule below), Speaker Mattiello’s bill and Representative Marcello’s bill. Marcello’s bill provides for real ethics reform, but with no exceptions. Mattiello’s bill provides for real ethics reform, but only for 70% of the year during an election, purportedly to alleviate ‘frivolous ethics violation claims’. Both bills are acceptable to the good government group, Common Cause. Please contact the <a href="mailto:[email protected]">Speaker</a>, the <a href="mailto:[email protected]">Senate President</a> and <a href="mailto:[email protected]">House Judiciary Chair Keable</a> and let them know you are in full support of Ethics Reform. 
On A Related Note, Hearings Begin This Week on Legislative Grants (Community Service Grants). 
As Speaker Mattiello promised, a review of legislative grants will take place this week. The community service grants, buried within the budgets of various departments, will receive hearings throughout the week (see schedule below). While the Speaker has said audits of every grant will take place by another governmental department, the expectations are relatively low for serious reform without an independent investigation. Keep in mind, when the public asks why we can’t fund our road and bridge repair, the $12 million legislative grant program places road and bridge repair as a lower priority than doling out your tax dollars to organizations that the Speaker and the Senate President deem are deserving of them. 
RhodeMap RI Saga. 
As you know, the critical and most controversial element of RhodeMap RI is acceptance of HUD funding and the ramifications of AFFH (Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing). Since its passage, PRARI (Property Rights Alliance RI) has been trying to obtain guidance from the state on the AFFH issue, but to no avail.  However, as more and more towns become aware (via the Westchester County case, and more recently, the Baltimore settlement) of the dangers of accepting the strings attached to HUD money, they are questioning their exposure.  
The Town of Barrington is still trying to understand the implications of AFFH and accepting federal HUD funding, whether through CDBG or other sources.  They have repeatedly asked the state to provide guidance, but as of April of this year, the state planning department has refused to respond.  
The Gaspee Project has provided this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ0orP2mCJY">video</a> of the Barrington council members voicing grave concerns over the state’s refusal to provide them with any answers regarding AFFH.  This is must see TV for those of you who are concerned with your council accepting HUD money. After viewing the video, we urge you to pass it along to your council members! 
If you have ever doubted that RhodeMap RI was shelved, by now you have seen, through our Alerts, that RhodeMap RI is moving ahead full steam. This week, numerous bills will be heard that support RhodeMap RI, the RI sustainable development plan created with HUD money that the Brookings Institute suggested as RI’s guiding light.  
Some Potentially RhodeMap RI-Related Legislation To Be Considered This Week (see full schedule of hearings in the Legislative Hearing Section below): 
<ul>
<li style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Senator Pichardo’s bill (S 2446) and Representative Slater’s companion bill (H 7552) provide bonding, in the amount of $100 million, for affordable housing.</li>
<li style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Representative Bennett’s bill (H 7070) provides a revolving Green Energy Fund, to include $60 million in bonds. </li>
<li style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Representative McNamara’s bill (H 7262) provides for a revolving fund for solar projects, along with state grants and tax credits.</li>
<li style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Representative Tobon’s bill (H 8009) provides $10 million from the state budget to further the Pawtucket/Central Falls train station (think empty Wickford train station).</li>
<li style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Representative Carson’s bill (H 7819) expands the ‘Green Buildings Act’. </li>
<li style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Senator DiPalma’s bill (S 2268) provides a tax stabilization program in the Town of Portsmouth (juxtapose this with Senator Pagliarini’s bill [S 2289] which would remove municipal authority to give your tax dollars away via tax stabilization programs).</li>
<li style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Representative Shekarchi’s bill (H 7833) that appears to propose a path to removing municipal council authority for land use development and move it to the local planning boards; of which are made up of unelected people!  </li>
<li style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">And, lastly, Rep. Shekarchi’s bill (<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/HouseText16/H8075.pdf">H 8075</a>), that will come to a House vote this week. This legislation would stipulate that, under the Farmland Preservation Act, when selling land with the development rights retained by the state, the Agricultural Lands Preservation Commission need not offer the municipality a first right of purchase. </li>
</ul>
Tolls, You Are Always On My Mind.
Senators DiPalma and Felag, both opponents to a toll in their East Bay backyard, have 3 bills scheduled for a hearing this week relating to punishment for potential future toll evaders. These pieces of legislation indicate their commitment to exacting serious punishment to those ‘evading’ tolls.  Remember, the Governor promised to have storm troopers, rather state troopers, positioned around the state to ensnare toll evaders.
Funding Illegal Aliens Continues. 
While the General Assembly refuses to implement E Verify in the face of unfettered illegal immigration into the State of RI, Senator Pichardo continues to introduce legislation that rolls out the welcome mat for illegal aliens that further commits RI as a sanctuary state. This week, two of the Senator’s bills will be heard - S 2528 which provides more funding to schools with illegal aliens, and S 2203, which allows in-state tuition for illegal aliens. We urge you to contact <a href="mailto:[email protected]">Senate President Paiva Weed</a> and let her know how you feel about these two bills.
Giving Away Your Tax Dollars To State Targeted Industries, Forget The Free Market.
RI has become a factory for targeted tax incentives. Senator Miller has two such bills that will be heard this week - S 2272 and S 2745 which would provide state targeted tax credits for historic development and for the film industry. These are simply government deciding who gets your tax dollars rather than reforming a tax system that is fair to all RI residents. 
Just Introduced At This Late Stage Of The Game. And It Isn't Good. 
Minority Leader Newberry introduced <a style="color: #0000ff;" href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/HouseText16/H8213.pdf">H 8213</a>, a bill that attacks charter schools, requiring any new mayoral academy application, that would draw on North Smithfield students, be approved by both the town council and school committee, which we know is the death knell to the application. Additionally, the bill provides that no North Smithfield student can attend the RISE Mayoral Academy without approval of both the town council and school committee!  This is a very disappointing development for charter schools, one of the bright spots in RI’s public education system. 
In Other News. 
Although OSTPA doesn’t generally focus on local municipal issues, we wanted to be sure that you were aware of Providence City Councilman, Kevin Jackson, being arrested for a charge of embezzlement of funds provided by the City of Providence. If you are a Providence resident, of course this corruption concerns you directly. If you are not a Providence resident, you should also consider this corruption as directly affecting you. Providence receives hundreds of millions of your state tax dollars so every dime spent on corrupt activities filters through to the state taxpayer in some form or another.  
 
**********************************************   Legislative Hearings  5/17/16 - 5/19/16 
TUE, MAY 17
House Judiciary  <a href="mailto:[email protected]">Chairman Keable  </a>Room 101, rise (4:30 pm)
<a style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;" href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/HouseText16/H7577.pdf">H 7577</a>  Proposes real ethics reform regarding jurisdiction over the General Assembly, supported by Common Cause.
Sponsors: Marcello, Hearn, Costantino, Shekarchi, and Ajello
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/HouseText16/H8189.pdf">H 8189</a> Proposes real ethics reform regarding jurisdiction over the General Assembly, albeit places restrictions on the timing for which an ethics violation claim can be considered by the ethics commission (from the date of candidate declaration through the day after election), purportedly to reduce frivolous claims. Also changes the ability of the ethics commission to amend rules, requiring 2/3 of the members to approve.  Also acceptable by Common Cause.
Sponsors: Mattiello, DeSimone, Serpa, Shekarchi, and Canario
House Finance   <a href="mailto:[email protected]">Chairman Abney </a>Room 35, 2:00 pm 
Sub Committee on Human Services:
<a href="http://status.rilin.state.ri.us/documents/agenda-11991.pdf">COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANTS</a>
House Finance  <a href="mailto:[email protected]">Chairman Abney </a>Room 35, rise (4:30 pm) 
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/HouseText16/H7070.pdf">H 7070</a> Creating the Green Energy Revolving Fund. Includes state bonds of $60 million to loan individuals and other borrowers for green energy projects, up to $40,000 and includes the ability to levy administrative fees.
Sponsors: Bennett, McNamara, Hull, Williams and Edwards 
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/HouseText16/H7262.pdf">H 7262</a> Creates a revolving fund for solar energy projects providing loans and in addition, the state will provide grants and tax credits. The state will make available facilities or land for the purpose of creating solar energy farms.
Sponsors: McNamara, Reilly, and Naughton 
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/HouseText16/H7552.pdf">H 7552</a> Provides for a bond referendum of $100 million for affordable housing.
Sponsors: Slater, Maldonado, Kazarian, Diaz, and Barros
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/HouseText16/H7722.pdf">H 7722</a> Provides that the 9-1-1 service charges paid by customers be used for 9-1-1 services only.
Sponsors: Lancia, Chippendale, Costa, Nardolillo and Filippi
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/HouseText16/H8009.pdf">H 8009</a> Provides $10 million (through the DOT) to fund site acquisition and design of a train station in Pawtucket/Central Falls.
Sponsors: Tobon, Maldonado, Barros, Coughlin and Johnston
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/HouseText16/H7379.pdf">H 7379</a> Allows for health benefits for professors teaching only 50% of a full-time load.
Sponsors: Jacquard and Fogarty
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/HouseText16/H7819.pdf">H 7819</a> Expands the “Green Buildings Act” to include public projects.
Sponsors: Carson, Shekarchi, Craven, Marshall, and Edwards
Senate Finance  <a href="mailto:[email protected]">Chairman DaPonte</a>  Room 211, 2:30 pm
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/SenateText16/S2745.pdf">S 2745</a> Provides for additional tax giveaways relating to state targeted industries, in this instance, film production, in spite of there being no evidence that there is a net benefit to the RI taxpayer.
Sponsors: Miller, Lynch Prata, Ruggerio, and Pearson
Senate Finance <a href="mailto:[email protected]">Chairman DaPonte</a>   Room 211, rise (4:30 pm)
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/HouseText16/H7551.pdf">H 7551</a> Allows municipality to by-pass voter approval for school bonds in any amount through July 1, 2016 and up to $500,000 after July 1, 2016.
Sponsors: DeSimone, Palangio, Slater, and Carnevale
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/SenateText16/S2203.pdf">S 2203</a> Allows illegal aliens in-state tuition rates for public colleges.
Sponsors: Pichardo, Goodwin, Crowley, Metts, and Jabour
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/SenateText16/S2268.pdf">S 2268</a> Allows the Portsmouth Town Council to establish a tax stabilization program for new commercial construction projects, bypassing the voter, at a time when government should be creating a fair tax structure for all, not provide giveaways that leave the taxpayer holding the bag. 
(Note that Senator Pagliarini has a bill [<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/SenateText16/S2289.pdf">S 2289</a>] removing the authority of municipalities to authorize tax stabilization programs, it has not been heard yet)
Sponsors: DiPalma, Felag
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/SenateText16/S2272.pdf">S 2272</a> Extends historic tax credits indefinitely.
Sponsor: Miller
Senate Judiciary <a href="mailto:[email protected]">Chairman McCaffrey</a>   Room 313, rise (4:30 pm)
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/SenateText16/S2361.pdf">S 2361</a> Proposes reforms to lobbying law.  Companion to H 7388 being heard in the House on Thursday.
Sponsors:
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/SenateText16/S2599.pdf">S 2599</a> Provides for all kinds of fees for toll violators and includes loss of license and vehicle registration.
Sponsors: DiPalma and Felag
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/SenateText16/S2602.pdf">S 2602</a> Exempts the RI Turnpike and Bridge Authority (tolls) from certain required administrative procedures regarding review of the assessment of tolls and administrative fees in S 2599 above.
Sponsors: DiPalma and Felag
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/SenateText16/S2610.pdf">S 2610</a> Allows the DMV to refuse registration of vehicles with unpaid toll fees.
Sponsors DiPalma and Felag
WED, MAY 18
House Finance  <a href="mailto:[email protected]">Chairman Abney</a>  Room 25, 2:00 pm
Sub Committee on General Government
Sub Committee on Public Safety
Sub Committee on Environment/Transportation
<a href="http://status.rilin.state.ri.us/documents/agenda-11994.pdf">COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANTS</a> 
Senate Finance  <a href="mailto:[email protected]">Chairman DaPonte</a>  Room 211, 2:30 pm
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/SenateText16/S2441.pdf">S 2441</a> Provides for good government process of submitting a zero-based budget.
Sponsors: O’Neill, Raptakis, Walaska, Sheehan, and Gee
Senate Finance  <a href="mailto:[email protected]">Chairman DaPonte</a>  Room 211, rise (4:30 pm)
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/SenateText16/S2446.pdf">S 2446</a>  Proposes another $100 million bond for affordable housing.
Sponsors: Pichardo, Crowley, Jabour, Nesselbush, and Archambault 
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/SenateText16/S2528.pdf">S 2528</a> Provides additional state school aid to municipalities for illegal aliens for ESL.
Sponsors: Pichardo, Metts, Goldin, and Nesselbush
THU, MAY 19
House Finance  <a href="mailto:[email protected]">Chairman Abney</a><a href="mailto:[email protected]"> </a>Room 35, 1:00 pm
Sub Committee on Human Services
<a href="http://status.rilin.state.ri.us/documents/agenda-11993.pdf">COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANTS</a>
House Judiciary  <a href="mailto:[email protected]">Chairman Keable</a>  Room 25, rise (4:30 pm)
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/HouseText16/H7388.pdf">H 7388</a> Proposes reforms to lobbying law. Companion to S 2361 being heard in Senate on Tuesday.
Sponsors: Jacquard, Williams, Gallison, Ruggeiro, and McEntee
House Municipal Government  <a href="mailto:[email protected]">Chairman Craven</a>  <a href="mailto:[email protected]"> </a>Room 101, rise (4:30 pm)
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/HouseText16/H7833A.pdf">H 7833</a> Appears to  create a path that begins to move authority for land use away from municipal councils and to the planning board, potentially in furtherance of RhodeMap RI.
Sponsors: Shekarchi, Costantino, Williams, and Blazejewski
Senate Finance  <a href="mailto:[email protected]">Chairman DaPonte</a>  <a href="mailto:[email protected]"> </a>Room, Senate Lounge, 2:30 pm
<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText16/SenateText16/S2687.pdf">S 2687</a>  Adds more cost to welfare via the RI Works program.
Sponsors: Pichardo, Metts, Nesselbush, Miller, and Ruggerio 
 
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