Proposed changes to the Providence, Rhode Island lobbying law are drawing criticism from various civic groups.

In a letter dated September 18 to the City Council, 11 nonprofit and community organizations urge the rejection of the proposal. The letter argues the proposed expansions effectively “discourage community activism” by “aiming explicitly at organizations that rely on non-compensated volunteers to advocate for the community.”

Samuel Zurier, the ordinance’s sponsor, claims the ordinance and amendments are “within the mainstream of what other [municipalities] do,” according to the Providence Journal. If passed, the changes would take effect on January 1, 2015.

The General Assembly concluded its session and recessed on June 21, 2014.

Any bills submitted to Gov. Lincoln Chafee must be signed or vetoed by July 1.

There is no pocket veto.

Photo of the Rhode Island State Capitol courtesy of Garrett A. Wollman on Wikimedia Commons.

On April 16, the Rhode Island Board of Elections voted to support the creation of legislation eliminating aggregate political contribution limits. The vote was in reaction to McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, the April 2 U.S. Supreme Court decision ruling aggregate contribution limits unconstitutional.

State law currently prohibits an individual from making contributions of more than $10,000 in the aggregate to more than one candidate, political action committee (PAC), or political party committee or to a combination of candidates, PACs, and political party committees within a calendar year.

According to the Providence Journal, Raymond A. Marcaccio, the board’s lawyer, told the board, “My observation is that [the state law limiting aggregate contributions] will be subject to a constitutional challenge so we should support legislation that would seek [its] repeal.”

The Rhode Island House of Representatives elected Rep. Nicholas A. Mattiello (D-Dist. 15, Cranston) its speaker yesterday.

Mattiello replaces Gordon Fox, who resigned on Saturday, March 22, following police raids of Fox’s office and home on Friday. According to his press release, Mattiello, a representative for the last seven years, announced to his fellow lawmakers that “[t]here will be a much greater emphasis on collaboration in the decision-making process among everyone in this room, Democrats and Republicans alike.”

Today the Rhode Island House of Representatives may seek to elect a new speaker to replace Gordon Fox, who resigned on Saturday. Fox abruptly resigned following a police raid of his home and office by state and federal officials on Friday. No reason for the search has yet been given by authorities or Fox.

Fox said he will remain as a representative in the House but does not intend to seek another term.

Photo of the Rhode Island State Capitol courtesy of Garrett A. Wollman on Wikimedia Commons.

Today, the LobbyTracker system used for Rhode Island lobbyist and employer registrations and reports has been updated at the state’s Secretary of State’s online lobbyist information portal.

Among the updates is the allowance for authorized users. An authorized user is someone who is given permission by the primary contact to file reports and register lobbyists on his or her behalf. This person may also serve as the authorized user for more than one entity, firm, or lobbyist.

Additionally, email addresses will now be used for login names. Only one email address is allowed per lobbyist, firm, or entity with the exception of one email address for either a firm and lobbyist, or an entity and lobbyist. An entity and firm may not share an email, nor may several lobbyists share one email address.

All 2013 reports will continue to be filed in the previous LobbyTracker system.

A bill was introduced that would prohibit lobbyists from making any political contributions to any member of the Rhode Island General Assembly during legislative sessions.

House Bill 5187, introduced by Representative John Lombardi on January 29, delineates the ban’s time-frame for each annual session from January 1 through July 1.

In his press release, Representative Lombardi states, “Perhaps buying a ticket to a legislator’s fundraiser is done with the best intentions, but it can still appear to be for a different reason entirely. Perceptions are important and there should never be the perception, even if incorrect, that a political contribution is a means to a special favor, to special treatment.”

This afternoon Rhode Island Governor Lincoln D. Chafee announced the upcoming introduction of a bill requiring those engaged in “independent expenditures” and “electioneering communications” to report donors and expenditures and to include disclaimers on media and internet advertising.

The Governor’s bill, Transparency in Political Spending Act (TIPS), was created with legislative leaders and Common Cause Rhode Island.

The Governor’s press release detailing the bill defines “independent expenditure” is an expenditure that expressly advocates for the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate and is not coordinated with any candidate’s campaign, authorized candidate committee or political party committee. “Electioneering communications” is defined as print, broadcast, cable, satellite, or electronic media communications not coordinated with any candidate, authorized candidate committee or political party committee which unambiguously identifies a candidate and is made within 60 days of a general or special election or within 30 days of a primary and can be received by 5,000 or more persons in the constituency.

Governor Chafee said, “[TIPS] seeks to [make] individuals and organizations trying to influence the outcome of an election accountable to the people of Rhode Island.” The collaboratively developed legislation was announced by the Governor with Common Cause Rhode Island’s Executive Director, John Marion, and the legislation’s sponsors: House Speaker Gordon Fox, Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed, Senate President Pro Tempore Juan Pichardo, and Representative Chris Blazejewski.

GoLocalProv.com published a snapshot of campaign fundraising in Rhode Island. They compiled a list of the candidates with the top figures in campaign funds as the state enters the race toward the 2o12 elections.

The list is topped by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and state General Treasurer Gina Raimondo. You will also  find Governor Lincoln Chaffee at the number 9 position, as well as a number of mayors, state senators, and state representatives in the list.

Read the full article at “Top 25 Richest Politicians in Rhode Island” by  Dan McGowan.

Common Cause Rhode Island released a statement asking the state to stop the redrawing of congressional districts.

For news coverage read “Common Cause calls for R.I. to stop redistricting process / Poll” by Philip Marcelo in the Providence Journal on December 13.

For more background information, read “New maps for Congress and state House of Representatives draw criticism” by Randal Edgar in the Providence Journal from December 12.

You can find Common Cause’s statement in “Common Cause calls for pause to redistricting process” on the Common Cause Rhode Island blog. Video coverage of the Rhode Island Redistricting Project meetings this week can be found here.

There are 32 political action committees and political party groups that owe campaign finance fines to the state of Rhode Island, according to a news item in GoLocalProv.com. The fines for the groups amount to more than $40,000, compared to political candidates who owe about one million dollars.

You can find the full story at “PACs & Political Parties Owe Tens of Thousands” by Dan McGowan in GoLocalProv.com. The article lists the groups that owe and details the steps the Rhode Island Board of Elections will be taking in order to collect the fines.

The Rhode Island Senate and House will both convene this Thursday, November 17.

The two bodies will be meeting at different times in the afternoon to consider Senate Bill S1111A and House Bill H6319A.

The bills concern contributions and benefits related to the retirement system for public officers and employees.

The Rhode Island General Assembly is scheduled to meet tomorrow, October 18. Tomorrow’s legislative purpose concerns changes to the public pension system.

Because the Legislature has technically only been in recess, the meeting is not a special session. The Legislature will meet intermittently throughout this fall.

Photo of the Rhode Island State Capitol by Garrett A. Wollman on Wikipedia.

DELAWARE: The 146th Delaware General Assembly concluded its first regular session June 30, 2011.

IOWA: The Iowa General Assembly adjourned sine die.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: The New Hampshire Legislature adjourned June 30, 2011.

OREGON: The 2011 regular session of the Legislature adjourned sine die on June 30, 2011. Governor John Kitzhaber has 30 days, excluding Saturdays and Sundays, to act upon any bill he receives within the last five days of the session, or the legislation becomes law without his signature.

RHODE ISLAND: The Legislature’s 2011 regular session recessed today. Any bills submitted to Governor Lincoln Chafee must be signed or vetoed by July 10. There is no pocket veto.