RI lawmakers introduce ethics bill

May 10, 2016 5:43 pm

By Samantha Fenlon

sfenlon@abc6.com

One week after former House Finance Chair Rep. Gallison submitted his resignation amid a federal probe, House Speaker Nick Mattiello introduces an ethics bill.

It’s something that watch dog agencies have long been calling for. This bill has the support of House and Senate leadership. It would grant the Ethics Commission jurisdiction over the General Assembly.

The legislation would broaden the powers of the state’s Ethics Commission by restoring conflicts of interest oversight.

This bill has been in the works long before former Rep Gallison’s resignation but Speaker Mattiello says now more than ever he believes this legislation is needed to restore the public’s trust in government.

"I want oversight – I want everyone to have a set of rules that they have to follow and answer to and I think that will create trust from the public’s perspective. Each and every member knows exactly what the rules are and what they have to abide by. I think that’s going to be good in building trust for everybody in the system."

Senate President Theresa Paiva Weed says, "what it will change is the jurisdiction of the ethics commission over the body in those instances where conflict of interest is not reported."

If passed by the General Assembly a referendum would be placed on the November ballot to remove legislative immunity from the state’s Constitution.