6 Questions: John DeLuca sits down with State Rep. Patricia Morgan

March 3, 2016 9:55 pm

By John DeLuca

news@abc6.com

She is a thorn in the side of leadership at the State House, never one to keep quiet–especially when it’s something she feels is wrong for her district or the state. Whether it’s taking on the Firefighters’ Union, or the controversial truck toll.

In this segment of 6 Questions with John DeLuca, Republican State Representative Patricia Morgan talks about being shouted down during a committee meeting, the atmosphere of retribution at the State House, and what it’ll take for Republicans to finally level the political playing field in Rhode Island.

In the days leading up to what would be the final RhodeWorks vote in the House, the Finance Committee took up the issue. Republican Representative Patricia Morgan had eleven questions about the proposal that she wanted information about.

After four of them an exchange-turned-shouting match took place between Morgan and the Committee Chair, Democrat Ray Gallison.

"As that was happening, were you mad? Were you shocked? Were you threatened? All of the above?" asked John.

"It’s an atmosphere that shouldn’t happen in the State House," said Morgan.

"Did you get a sense during that meeting that it was being rushed through–rammed through–as one of the reasons that you weren’t allowed to ask questions as you typically would be allowed to do?" asked John.

"I think I started asking questions and they didn’t want Director Alviti to answer them, so they stopped me," said Morgan.

"So when you were shouted down, what did you do after that? What happened?" inquired John.

"I stayed there. I’m a professional. I voted against the bill, and then I left," replied Morgan. "It’s not right that it happened. It did. I still have to go on. I still have to represent the people of my district and the people of Rhode Island, and I intend to do that."

"What did you think when the Speaker demoted the Democrats who voted against the toll proposal?" John asked.

"Well, I think it’s very revealing about the atmosphere that’s up in the State House, and that’s not a good atmosphere when people who vote their conscience get punished for it," said Morgan.

"We’ve seen it year after year after year. The Democrats continue to win despite craziness at the State House, from Gordon Fox and 38 Studios, and now the tolls and all this other stuff," said John. "Do you really think it’ll make a difference? Is this something that Republicans can really pounce on and use to their advantage in November?"

"You know, I hope so. There’s just no dynamic in the General Assembly. There’s no political pressure, and there needs to be if we’re going to get really good policies, because there needs to be a voice," said Morgan. "It can’t just be people sitting there and saying, ‘Whatever you want, Speaker.’"

"If you get a few more reps–you know the number, I don’t–maybe you get with what’s there. A few more come in, maybe some of the moderate Democrats, or some of the conservative Democrats. At that point, could you caucus enough to have more of a footprint and say, ‘We can get things done with this group,’ and what do you think that number would be?" asked John.

"The number is 25, and that’s the goal. 25, you can stop the budget. That’s a big deal because that really then makes them listen to you. It makes them look at your solutions," said Morgan.

Currently there are eleven Republican Representatives in the House and one Independent who caucuses with them for a total of twelve. Morgan stated they need 25 to have a real say in what goes on with the budget, but they’re targeting Democrats in November that they believe are vulnerable to reach that number.