Moore: Cynicism Dominates RI Politics
Monday, May 30, 2016
I'm starting to think our political leaders don't think very highly of the citizens of Little Rhody.
There's really no other conclusion after pondering last week's turn of events.
I don't think I'll ever forget the spectacle that was last Tuesday night's legislative session.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTFirst, House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello stood up scolded the Providence Journal for its editorial that criticized the legislative grant process.
As GoLocal reported last week, the Providence Journal did make a significant error. The Journal berated Representative Carlos Tobon for missing a the legislative hearing over the grant process. Tobon, however, was busy with his commitments to the U.S. Coast Guard. Of course he shouldn't be criticized for failing to attend that hearing. And of course the Providence Journal should have apologized for that mishap.
Here's the thing: although the Journal made some mistakes in their editorial, their main point couldn't have been more correct. Yes, the legislative grants go to some worthwhile causes, initiatives, and non-profit groups.
To listen to Mattiello, you'd think that because the Journal made some mistakes in their editorial that it means that the legislative grant process is perfectly fine and that there's nothing to see there.
First of all, that's illogical. Getting one detail incorrect does not discredit the crux of someone's argument.
Secondly, if that were true, Mattiello would have no credibility, since he's made plenty of mistakes of his own during his tenure as a member of House leadership. (He voted for the loan guarantee plan that paved the way for 38 studios, which he claims he knew nothing about. Mattiello also appointed Ray Gallison as Chairman of House Finance, despite having been under investigation by the RI Ethics Commission in 2007, which he later settled with.)
The process by which legislative grants are doled out--merely at the discretion of statehouse leadership, creates perverse incentives. The grants are a way to punish legislators who vote against statehouse leadership and reward the legislators who act like obedient mindless drones instead of thoughtful leaders looking out for the best interests of their constituents. In the end, the legislative grant fund is really just a glorified slush fund.
That's why Mattiello's cynical stunt, to deflect away from the real issue by criticizing the Journal, isn't going to fool Rhode Islanders. It's only anecdotal evidence, but just the vast majority of the people I've spoken to about the situation as well as most internet commenters believe the grant process is corrupt, and that Mattiello is playing games by criticizing the media.
The hearing itself was just as cynical. Instead of delving into how to make the process more transparent and fair, the committee just invited in some grant recipients to talk about how lovely it is to get the money. It was a complete dog and pony show.
But it wasn't just Mattiello. Representative Anastasia Williams criticized channel 12 for reporting that she made mistakes on her ethics report filing. (She explains away the situation by noting that she was "multi-tasking" when she filled it out.)
So apparently, the media should just quit snooping around so much. Why do the citizens of Rhode Island need to know which legislators are screwing up their ethics filings anyways? Ethics? We don't need no stinking ethics!
And Representative Eileen Naugton suggested that the media needs some ethics reform. (Naughton came under criticism for the way she conducted the hearing on the grants.)
Don't get me wrong: the media in RI isn't perfect. I'll be the first to admit that your's truly has also made mistakes in the past. But for Mattiello and his lackeys to suggest that the problem in Rhode Island is the media, is downright laughable. It was downright nauseating to have to listen to.
Rhode Island's problems weren't caused by the media. They were caused by the legislature. In other words, it's not us, Speaker. It's you!
Russell J. Moore has worked on both sides of the desk in RI media, both for newspapers and on political campaigns. Send him email at [email protected]. Follow him on twitter @russmoore713.
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