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.

The posted video was taken from a Capitol TV video which is the Rhode Island equivalent of C-Span telecasts of the U. S. House of Representatives. Except for the insertion of our text graphics, the audio and video of the original telecast have not been altered.

Viewers might wonder in disbelief as they observe the Senate President as she does not allow the senator the usual procedure of addressing his bill and therefore his microphone is never turned on. Additionally she ignores the request for a roll call vote.

According to OCG president, Marie Sorman, “This is nothing new to “RI Style” democracy in the closing days of the legislative session when hundreds of bills are rammed through the Senate and House as rules are suspended allowing legislation to pass without public scrutiny. Only this time it is on tape and easily accessible on YouTube for the world to see how “the people’s business is done in Rhode Island.”

In the past two General Assembly sessions, Senate President Paiva-Weed has thwarted all attempts at any discussion or vote on this legislation which means voters have no idea where their Senator stands on an important, controversial piece of legislation. OCG has taken no position on this legislation. We strongly take issue with the leadership not allowing a committee vote, or, in this last session, a floor vote on this substantive legislation.

The mission of Operation Clean Government is to promote honest, responsible, and responsive state government in Rhode Island. We feel that the action shown in this video is neither honest, responsible, nor responsive. (OCG) is a group dedicated to promoting honest, responsible, and responsivetate government in Rhode Island.
To view the YouTube video, Rhode Island Senate Misuse of Power, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m96u5Q-7CD0