Left to right: Moderator Dave Layman; Chuck Barton, OCG president; Kenneth Payne, former State Senate advisor and URI adjunct professor; Ed Achorn, Providence Journal Deputy Editorial Editor; Bill Rappleye, NBC 10 News; Arlene Violet, former Rhode Island Attorney General; Ross Cheit, Brown University professor and Ethics Commission member; John DePetro, WPRO Talk Show Host.
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The General Assembly:
Private Deal$ and Public Corruption
Moderator Dave Layman opens forum
quoting Martin Luther King:
"The silence of good people is worse
than the actions of bad people."
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OCG's President Chuck Barton reviewed the recent history of corruption and questionable behavior of Assembly members, including complaints filed by OCG that resulted in fines to these members. He said that Rhode Island is more prone to corruption because of the attitude that:
" Self interest is perceived as the same as the public interest."
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Ken Payne, former State Senate advisor and URI professor, reminded the audience that Rhode Island's General Assembly was a far rougher place 35 years ago. He traced the source of power which originated in the Royal Charter of 1663. The founders were leery of executive powers. Dr. Payne saw sources of corruption in the conflict of values (royalty values family, others fear nepotism.); strict rules which create disparity in values; and bad times which drive people to inappropriate behavior. He also emphasized that:
"Current retrenchments could make matters worse."
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Arlene Violet, former R.I. Attorney General and political columnist believes that Rhode Island has a "culture of entitlement" at all levels from the largest corporations to ordinary people. She sees a parade of people assaulting the state house with "I want mine" demands. She thinks that:
"We've got to change the welfare mentality."
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Ed Achorn, Providence Journal editor, saw the roots of corruption in one-party dominance of state politics; long-term drive by public employee unions to seize control of the democratic process, and a complacent media. He saw a need for more people to run for public office. He especially regrets that:
"There is a legacy of public acceptance."
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Bill Rappleye, NBC 10 News Reporter defended the many legislators who work hard for the public but are tarred by the actions of a minority. He sees talk radio as "over the top" much of the time and the 'Operation Dollar Bill' federal investigation as taking too long to produce legal actions. He thinks:
"Talk radio whips people up and doesn't. . . solve the problem."
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Ross Cheit, Brown University professor and Ethics Commission member, believes that conflicts of interest are hard to avoid in a part time legislature. He thinks the Ethics Commission would be stronger if it could do more of its own investigations.
"The Ethics Commission should investigate things that look like crimes, not just bad uses of the public interest."
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John DePetro, WPRO Talk Show Host, commended U.S. Attorney Corrente for pursuing cases which R.I. Attorneys General ignored. He asks, "Where's the outrage?" at the course of events. He thinks Senate President Montalbano is a "disgrace" and that the CVS trial should be on television.
" You can steal much more
with a pen than with a gun."
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Broadcast of the Forum
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| Watch for email alerts or check at ocgri.org about broadcast schedules of OCG's Corruption Forum. A one hour edited version of will be on Channel 36 in June, date to be announced. The full 90 minute DVD will be on the OCG website by early June. OCG's State of the State cable TV program will also broadcast the forum at times to be announced. |
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Operation Clean Government wishes to thank John Hazen White, Jr.'s Lookout Rhode Island for providing the funding for the videotaping of this event. As a result of this generous contribution, the forum will be broadcast in June on RIPBS - Channel 36 and will be distributed to area colleges and libraries.
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