Many lawmakers amend their ethics filings

May 13, 2016 11:10 pm

By: Ana Bottary

abottary@abc6.com

Providence, RI – Many state have amended ethics filings, which is something that that head of a watchdog group call unusual.

“I don’t remember a time when we have seen such a spike in amended filings like this:” said John Marion of Common Cause. Marion says he does not think this is just a coincidence.

“After Rep. Gallison had troubles with his filings in the past and then people started digging through these, the media started digging through these and some citizens have been talking about these on social media and cross referencing this information with other state databases”.

Among those who amended their filings was Rep. Doreen Costa, who did not report her role with Operation Stand Down RI. She did not realize a volunteer, unpaid position required disclosure.

Others who amended their filings include Rep. Joseph Almeida, who did not reveal his role with Roger Williams Day Care Center, and House Finance Chairman Marvin Abney, who did not reveal his wife’s unpaid position as a Newport Housing Authority Commissioner.

Marion says not disclosing information can come with a penalty. “When you sign it, you swear pains and penalties of perjury, so if someone deliberately tried to mislead the public, in this public record, they could be prosecuted if the ethics commission referred them for prosecution to the Attorney General.

He says a majority of these amendments are probably due to inadvertent forgetful people who did not put something on the form. However, if a complaint is made to the ethics commission they are able to make a decision of whether it was intentional or not.