Political Scene: 3 tales from RI where everybody knows everybody else
Here are a few:
◘ The City of Providence has paid more than $390,000 so far in accidental disability benefits to one of the highest profile political operatives in Rhode Island for injuries suffered 17 years ago when his foot reached for the brake, and accidentally hit the gas.
◘ Providence mayoral candidate
Brett Smiley s lawyer doesn t deny that Smiley solicited $500 from state contractor
Colin Kane while he still headed the state agency that oversees the award of state contracts. But he is seeking to convince the Ethics Commission: it was okay.
◘ And finally, the R.I. Ethics Commission split 3-to-3 recently over the propriety of a state senator introducing a bill to allow one of her lawyer-husband s clients to get a liquor license in an off-limits zone on the East Side.
The year: 1992.
The credit-union crisis had consumed the state. Corruption made regular headlines. Thousands had descended on the State House to demand reforms.
From The Providence Journal s archives: On January 5, 5,000 people gathered at their churches and proceeded to the State House to express support for a package of legislation . to bring ethics back to Rhode Island government. On April 27, over 650 people . convened at McVinney Auditorium in Providence to reiterate the call for ethical reform in Rhode Island state government. A poll . conducted by Alpha Research Associates . [found that] 66 percent oppose the appointment of General Assembly members to judgeships while in office or shortly after leaving office.