The Rhode Island Ethics Commission has taken a significant step towards strengthening the state’s ethics code by voting to include lobbyists in the ban on giving gifts over $25 to public employees and officials. The decision, prompted by a petition from Common Cause Rhode Island, comes in response to concerns raised after a report revealed that Gov. Dan McKee accepted thousands of dollars in free consulting services from a nonprofit with ties to a lobbying group.
The commission also considered but ultimately rejected two additional rule changes proposed by Common Cause Rhode Island. While the organization had asked for the disclosure of gifts over $25 given to public officials, the commission voted to reject this request. The commission also did not take action on a request for a broad review of the section of the ethics code related to procurement, which has not been updated since 1993.
Despite the rejection of some of their proposals, Common Cause Rhode Island’s Executive Director, John Marion, praised the commission’s decision to address the loophole in the gift rule. Marion stated that the goal is to stop behavior that is deemed unethical, rather than just disclosing it.
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