Carcieri Releases Details Of Anti-Corruption Panel Bill

Associated Press - turnto10.com ^ | January 21, 2004 | AP

[JohnnyZ]

Independent Commission Would Have Subpoena Powers

PROVIDENCE -- Gov. Don Carcieri on Wednesday made public details of legislation calling for a five-member, independent commission to investigate a political system he sees as corrupt.

The commission would have subpoena powers, hold public hearings and report within a year its findings and recommendations.

The proposed commission comes amid a flurry of ethics complaints against several lawmakers, but faces opposition from House Speaker William Murphy, D-West Warwick. He prefers beefing up the state Ethics Commission's budget to providing money for Carcieri's request, which the governor estimated at roughly $200,000.

Carcieri, however, said the activities of the Ethics Commission are among the things he wants the independent panel to look into.

For the commission to have subpoena powers, it needs approval from the General Assembly.

The Republican governor said the commission's settlement this week of an ethics complaint against House Majority Leader Gordon Fox was a mistake. He said the public deserves more details on Fox's business relationship with GTECH when he voted on a deal benefiting the lottery giant.

Fox, D-Providence, agreed to pay a $10,000 fine, claiming he did not know his law firm was working for GTECH when he voted in favor of the legislation.

"This decision has ... created more cynicism, more lack of confidence, and to me is one more key example of why we need to get on with this select commission," Carcieri said. "Why would you make a decision to settle an issue with the majority leader? I don't understand that."

Ethics Commission Chairman James Lynch did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment. Lynch has said he'll ask lawmakers to support increasing the commission's $950,000 budget.

State police and the attorney general's office are also investigating the business activities of some state lawmakers.