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Operation
Clean Government (OCG) is a group dedicated
to promoting honest, responsible, and responsive
state government in Rhode Island. We need your
help to advance our mission and change the
practice of politics in the Ocean State.
SENATE
LEADERSHIP EXERCISES AN UNDEMOCRATIC
STYLE OF GOVERNANCE
Operation
Clean Government (OCG) has posted
a video on You Tube of the June
1st Senate session when Senate President
Teresa Paiva-Weed and Majority Leader
Daniel Connors used “bully tactics” to
squash a floor vote on a controversial
bill sponsored by Senator Marc Cote,
(D), Woonsocket and cosponsored by
18 members of the Senate. Viewers will
have the opportunity to witness the
RI Senate leadership abuse their power
in the closing days of the 2010 legislative
session.
OCG
PRESIDENT LARRY VALENCIA RESIGNS;
BOARD NAMES MARIE SORMAN PRESIDENT
The Board of Directors of Operation
Clean Government (OCG) is pleased to
announce that Marie Sorman, a former
OCG Vice-President and Board Member,
as well as the chairperson of OCG's
last two very successful Candidate
Schools in 2008 and 2010, has been
elected to complete the unexpired term
of President Larry Valencia, effective
today. Mr. Valencia, a Commercial Lines
Consultant with Woodmansee Insurance
in Richmond, resigned from the position
to run for State Representative for
District 39 (Charlestown, Exeter, Richmond).
He has served as OCG President since
June 2009.
"I've greatly enjoyed my time
as President of this unique and storied
organization. This past year we've
conducted a very successful Candidate
School, we've strengthened our Board,
increased support for our tremendous
award-winning cable show State of the
State, worked more closely with other
good government groups, and provided
an increased lobbying effort at the
General Assembly," said outgoing
President Larry Valencia. "I'm
staying on the OCG Board until November
to help provide Marie with continuity
and guidance. Having worked closely
with Marie, I know she'll do an outstanding
job as OCG President," Valencia
added.
As
the French said years ago: The more
things change, the more they stay
the same. That applies to the 2009-2010
Rhode Island General Assembly. Even
though Senate President Montalbano
left, and Speaker Murphy stepped down,
the new leaders replacing them gave
OCG the same result: none of OCG’s
legislative priorities passed.
The new leadership, just like the
old, also presided over a mad rush
to adjourn during the last days of
the session, amending and passing many
bills with minimal opportunity for
the public, or even rank and file legislators,
to review or provide input.
The
biggest disappointment was the Ethics
reform bills (S2391 Lenihan,
H7357 Fox) to allow voters to re-establish
Ethics Commission conflict of interest
oversight over the General Assembly.
Though H7357 passed the House overwhelmingly,
67–5,
it, and S2391, both died in the Senate
Committee on Constitutional & Regulatory
Issues, chaired by Senator Goodwin.
Operation
Clean Government (OCG) is a group dedicated
to promoting honest, responsible, and responsive
state government in Rhode Island. We need your
help to advance our mission and change the
practice of politics in the Ocean State. 
