2021 News & Press

MORE LAME DUCK LUNACY FROM RAIMONDO

February 12, 2021

Governor Raimondo has placed the nomination of John “Jack” Revens, Jr, Esq. forward to the General Assembly to fill a six year term on the Public Utilities Commission (“PUC”) that opens on March 1,2021. Jack Revens is a former Senate Majority leader who served for 20 years in the General Assembly. He is entitled to a state pension, yet has not taken the $12,000 a year payout despite being eligible. The PUC role carries a salary of $ 139,000 a year, which would substantially increase his state pension.

Rhode Island Republican Party Chair Sue Cienki stated, “ Lame duck Governor Raimondo is leaving for Washington, D.C. and should resign to allow Lt. Governor McKee to take the reins and make all appointments to boards and commissions. A lame duck governor helping an ally increase his state pension is nothing more than another act of cronyism at the taxpayers’ expense. Additionally, Rhode Island taxpayers would be better served if the appointment were a person who can commit to the job full time and not someone who spends a significant amount of time in Florida. “

Cienki concluded, “Governor Raimondo has to stop playing political games on her way out the door and allow the Lt. Governor attempt to get Rhode Island back on track”

RI GOP FILES ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST SMILEY

February 11, 2021

Today, Sue Cienki, Chairwoman of the R.I. Republican Party, has filed a complaint with the R.I. Ethics Commission regarding Brett Smiley, Governor Raimondo’s Director of Administration, for soliciting donations from state vendors, specifically Colin Kane of the Peregrine Group. Specifically, Kane told WPRI that Smiley had called him a few weeks ago to solicit the donation. This is a clear violation of Regulation 1.4.4(36-14-5011).

R.I. Republican Party Chairwoman Sue Cienki commented: “Mr. Smiley is getting ready to resign to focus on the next chapter of his public service career. We believe that the next chapter in Smiley’s career shouldn’t begin until a sweeping investigation by the Ethics Commission into his unethical pay to play fundraising is conducted. We also hope that a future chapter in Smiley’s career does not involve Raimondo giving him a job in Washington D.C. Along with committing to keep Huawei on the Entity List, maybe U.S. Senators should demand that Raimondo commit not to put slimy Smiley, her right-hand man, on the federal payroll.”

SLIMY SMILEY STEP DOWN

February 08, 2021

Recently, WPRI and the Providence Journal reported how Brett Smiley, Governor Gina Raimondo’s Director of Administration, had taken thousands of dollars in contributions from individuals who are employed by state vendors. This has occurred despite Smiley promising to the Ethics Commission that he would not solicit or accept any campaign contributions from state vendors. So far, Smiley has returned $5,000 in contributions from individuals who are employed by the following state vendors: Shechtman Halperin Savage, Peregrine Group, J.R. Vinagro Corp, Washington Trust, and AAA Northeast. Smiley has not returned contributions from individuals associated with the Rosciti Construction company, or Accenture LLP.

SENATORS, BE CONSISTENT AND SAVE US A MILLION DOLLARS

February 04, 2021

With Governor Gina Raimondo about to exit, Lt. Governor Dan McKee created a website, mckeetransition.com, to accept applications for anyone wanting to be lieutenant governor. He also placed Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena in charge of screening the applicants. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey indicated that any appointment would require Senate confirmation.

Local historian and R.I. Republican National Committeeman Steven Frias stated: “The last time the office of lieutenant governor became vacant was in 1997. Senate Democrats opposed Governor Lincoln Almond’s plan to fill the vacancy through an appointment. In fact, Senate Democrats passed legislation that would have required the office of lieutenant governor to remain vacant and made any appointment or nomination for lieutenant governor null and void (Senate Bill 97-S0057; Senate Journal 1/21/1997). Senators Maryellen Goodwin and Polisena sponsored the legislation and Senators Dominick Ruggerio and McCaffrey voted for it. Back then, some Democrats like R.I. Democratic Party Treasurer Jack McConnell argued: “Rhode Island taxpayers should not have to bear the full burden of funding for an office for an individual they did not elect and for an unknown agenda that they have not approved.’”