Senate
Leadership Exercises an Undemocratic
Syle 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.
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
