Press

Featured Press
Commission Appointed to Prep for Potential Constitutional Convention

News Clip

Commission Appointed to Prep for Potential Constitutional Convention

The commission for the proposed RI Constitution Convention included 4 spots for the public - all filled by former elected officials or State House staffers. The rest of the commission is made up of Democrats and Republicans from both the House and the Senate.

Media Contacts

Katie Scally

Communications Director
kscally@commoncause.org
408-205-1257


Common Cause’s network of national and state democracy reform experts are frequent media commentators. To talk with one of our experts, please reach out to any member of the press team above.

Filters

248 Results

through

Reset Filters

Close

Filters

248 Results

through

Reset Filters


Editorial: Put the veto on the ballot

News Clip

Editorial: Put the veto on the ballot

It’s time for the cynicism and the games to end. Gov. Gina Raimondo and the General Assembly should use their clout this year to make sure a strong line-item veto appears on the 2020 ballot. As we have long noted, this reform currently benefits 44 states. Rhode Island is one of only six that refuses to provide this check on corruption. A 2016 poll by Common Cause Rhode Island found that 66 percent of voters support the line-item veto.

Legislative Jobs For District 15 Voters Have Multiplied During Mattiello’s Time As RI Speaker

News Clip

Legislative Jobs For District 15 Voters Have Multiplied During Mattiello’s Time As RI Speaker

The number of patronage jobs from House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello’s Cranston district has almost tripled during Mattiello’s time as speaker. Patronage jobs are one of the tools that a legislative leader like Mattiello can use to reinforce his own political power at the Statehouse.

Nesi’s Notes: Feb. 2

News Clip

Nesi’s Notes: Feb. 2

Congressman Cicilline is holding out hope that the 2020 Census will turn up enough Rhode Islanders to hold onto one of the state's two U.S. House seats. "I actually don't think it's settled," Cicilline said on this week's Newsmakers. While that's true -- and a famously aggressive effort by Massachusetts in 2000 helped the Bay State keep a 10th House seat -- it's safe to say most other observers sound far more pessimistic.

All The Reasons The 2020 Census Is Shaping Up To Be A Disaster

News Clip

All The Reasons The 2020 Census Is Shaping Up To Be A Disaster

John Marion says Rhode Island represents the “ghost of Christmas future.” Last spring, the Ocean State was home to the first and only trial run for the 2020 census, which was conducted in 637,000-strong, immigrant-heavy Providence County.

TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Politics/Media Roundup For February 1

News Clip

TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Politics/Media Roundup For February 1

The early phase of Rhode Island’s legislative session remains busy, with scores of people coming to the Statehouse to sound off on one of the nation’s most divisive issues. That’s part of what we’re looking at, so thanks for stopping by for my weekly column. As usual, your tips and comments are welcome, and you can follow me through the week on the twitters. Here we go.

Amid controversy, Senate confirms 3 to lifetime judgeships

News Clip

Amid controversy, Senate confirms 3 to lifetime judgeships

At issue is the governor’s and Senate’s refusal to make public key documents in the nomination packages the Senate received for each of the three candidates, Richard Merola, Keith Cardoza and Susan Pepin Fay

Why States Should Be Watching Rhode Island’s Election Audit Pilots

News Clip

Why States Should Be Watching Rhode Island’s Election Audit Pilots

Rhode Island is on pace to become the second state to use risk-limiting election audits, beginning with the presidential primary in 2020, having conducted three trial runs earlier this month. These audits—essentially a check to ensure votes are being counted correctly—limit the risk a wrong election result is certified, and Colorado performed the first in November 2017.

Mayor Elorza secured $5K donation from school bus company with big city contract

News Clip

Mayor Elorza secured $5K donation from school bus company with big city contract

The private transportation company at the center of an 11-day bus driver strike that left thousands of Providence children without rides to and from school in October donated $5,000 to Mayor Jorge Elorza’s inauguration and travel fund earlier this month, Target 12 has learned.

More than 1,200 ballots recreated on Election Day after printer problems

News Clip

More than 1,200 ballots recreated on Election Day after printer problems

More than 1,200 ballots had to be remade by hand by a R.I. Board of Elections employee in the most recent general election, according to records reviewed by Target 12. Elections officials said it’s hard to compare the number to previous years because of a recent change in technology, but they noticed it was a larger number of what they call “remakes” than usual.

Close

Close

Hello! It looks like you're joining us from {state}.

Want to see what's happening in your state?

Go to Common Cause {state}