FY20 Includes Big Win for the RI Taxpayers

6/21/2019

News

Providence, RI – The Rhode Island House Republican Caucus celebrated a victory on behalf of the Rhode Island taxpayer, with the inclusion of a provision to place settlement monies obtained through the Rhode Island Attorney General in a restricted account -- with expenditures from those funds now subject to the annual appropriation process and approval by the General Assembly. The addition of a mandatory review of monies dispersed from this restricted account adds another level of protection for the Rhode Island taxpayer.

Rhode Island State House

Rhode Island’s Attorney General is authorized to accept, in the name of the state, any monies obtained from settlements resulting from a multi-state initiative. The $230-million Google settlement caused quite a stir last year when House Republicans were seeking information on how the Office of the Attorney General dispersed its share of the funds. Roadblocks to obtaining that information were often reported in the news and resulted in Access to Public Records Act litigation.

“Settlement monies are obtained through the diligent efforts of resourceful state employees, whose positions are funded by state tax revenues,” said House Minority Leader Blake Filippi. “As a result, while many of these settlement funds have restricted use, it is time for proposed expenditures to receive the same scrutiny as all other expenditures in state government through General Assembly oversight.”

“The state share of the Google money was almost double the amount of money state funds spent on the DeLoitte UHIP computer fiasco,” Filippi continued. “House Republicans welcome the accountability now mandated in the FY20 budget for these one-time windfall settlements.”

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The Rhode Island House of Representatives Minority Caucus (Republican) is comprised of the following elected members representing constituents who live in the following districts throughout the Ocean State: Minority Leader, Blake Filippi, District 36 (Charlestown, South Kingstown, Westerly, New Shoreham); Minority Whip, Michael Chippendale, District 40 (Foster, Glocester, Coventry); Representative John Lyle, Jr., District 46 (Lincoln, Pawtucket); Representative George Nardone, District 28 (Coventry); Representative Brian Newberry, District 48 (North Smithfield, Burrillville); Representative David Place, District 47 (Burrillville, Glocester); Senior Deputy Minority Leader Justin Price, District 39 (Exeter, Hopkinton, Richmond); Deputy Minority Leader Robert Quattrocchi, District 41 (Scituate, Cranston); Deputy Whip Sherry Roberts, District 29 (Coventry, West Greenwich).

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In 1636, Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island, established the first working model of Democracy after being banished from Massachusetts for his “extreme views” concerning freedom of speech and religion. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams publicly acknowledged Williams as the originator of these concepts, along with the freedom of public assembly, in the First Amendment in the United States Constitution. Today, Rhode Island House Republicans uphold the liberties designed by our Founders and preserved in our Constitution, and are the primary legislative body promoting lean government, fighting for lower taxes, and advocating for initiatives and policies that improve the economy and in turn, the lives of Rhode Islanders. As members of a part-time assembly, we are small business owners, retired educators, community activists, lawyers, farmers, military service veterans, volunteers, former local officials, retired social workers, coaches, musicians, churchgoers and board directors -- bringing these community engagement and professional experiences to our work, on your behalf, at the Rhode Island State House.