Progressive Democrats Call for Mattiello to “Get Back to Work”
Thursday, July 13, 2017
The Rhode Island Progressive Democrats are criticizing Speaker Nick Mattiello for his failure to pass the budget and move important legislation. The Progressive Democrats group and the traditional Democratic Party have been firing shots at one another over the past month.
"Speaker Nicholas Mattiello is drawing a lot of attention to himself, and he is not handling it well. Instead of taking responsibility for shutting down the House before a budget was passed, he is responding to criticism by finger pointing, complaining, and trying to shift the spotlight and the blame onto anyone but himself," said the group in a statement released on Wednesday.
In previous weeks, the group has entered into a blistering series of attacks with Mattiello and Democratic Party senior advisor Bill Lynch. He is the former chair of the RI Democratic Party and ran for both Mayor of Pawtucket and Congress in the past. Lynch is being paid $4,000 a month by the party.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"Speaker Mattiello's decision to close the House is solely his, yet he argues that Senate President Dominick Ruggerio’s budget amendment breached a contract between the two—a handshake which is still unconfirmed. Perhaps, Mattiello should review the Rhode Island Constitution, the Rhode Island General Laws, and the rules by which the legislature functions, and show us where handshakes are discussed. Our reading of the law suggests that the Senate has a right and a duty to review and amend the budget where it deems necessary or appropriate for the public interest. Is Mattiello suggesting that only the President and Senate Finance committee have the right to amend the budget, rather than individual senators?" said the Progressives. The statement was issued by Capri Catanzaro.
"Mattiello repeatedly insists that it is accepted practice for Rhode Island legislators to make deals behind closed doors rather than in full public view, but it will not get him off the hook. People with integrity do not make excuses, and our Speaker must recognize that the broken assurances of one or two state senators do not relieve him of the duties of his office and his responsibilities to the state. But as his recent actions clearly demonstrate, Mattiello is not an honorable man. Rather than doing his job, he ordered everyone home so he could avoid negotiations with the Senate, and the possibility of losing them. Now, instead of putting aside his personal qualms and working toward a solution, he rejects any and all attempts at compromise and insists that the issue is closed."
The group again called for Mattiello to step down as Speaker of the House,"RIPDA knows that Speaker Mattiello will never resign, but we repeat our call for him to do so nonetheless. He deserves to be held accountable for his actions, just like everyone else, and the logical consequence of his gross negligence is his removal from his position of authority. We hope that the House will reconvene shortly to conclude the state's business, and we hope that members of the House will soon choose a more principled Speaker to lead them."
Related Slideshow: FY18 House Finance Budget
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