In the wake of new revelations about the state government's apparent expanded role in a conspiracy that resulted in the 38 Studios boondoggle, RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity joined with other good-government groups to issue a joint statement at a 2:00 pm press conference today to call on Superior Court Judge Silverstein, Governor Raimondo, and Speaker Mattiello to take decisive action on related investigations and document releases.
In addition to the statement, which calls for new and renewed investigations and court document releases, individuals from the group - Ken Block from WatchdogRI.org, Monique Chartier from the RI Taxpayers Association, and the Center's CEO, Mike Stenhouse - made additional comments at the event in the offices of Block's Simpatico Software Systems company.
"It is government at its worst when special-interest deals and other major policy programs are secretly developed and implemented by crony insiders, at great expense to taxpayers, without rigorous public debate or adequate oversight by our duly elected state legislators," commented Stenhouse. "This disturbing trend of insider government by executive fiat, regulatory despotism, and backroom negotiated deals supersedes the authority of the General Assembly and must come to an end. Further any individuals involved must be exposed and held accountable."
The Center points to similar non-transparent government-by-fiat edicts and actions, such as the secret pension reform compromise arbitrator negotiations, Deepwater Wind, RhodeMap RI, the HPV vaccine mandate, HealthSource RI, as well as the current Pawtucket Red Sox stadium relocation negotiations, sadly now referred to at 38 Stadium.
"It is government at its worst when special-interest deals and other major policy programs are secretly developed and implemented by crony insiders, at great expense to taxpayers, without rigorous public debate or adequate oversight by our duly elected state legislators," commented Stenhouse. "This disturbing trend of insider government by executive fiat, regulatory despotism, and backroom negotiated deals supersedes the authority of the General Assembly and must come to an end. Further any individuals involved must be exposed and held accountable."
The Center points to similar non-transparent government-by-fiat edicts and actions, such as the secret pension reform compromise arbitrator negotiations, Deepwater Wind, RhodeMap RI, the HPV vaccine mandate, HealthSource RI, as well as the current Pawtucket Red Sox stadium relocation negotiations, sadly now referred to at 38 Stadium.
