March 19, 2008

RI Political Corruption

Gosh, It's Not Really Here

Justin Katz

Not surprisingly the Prostitution State is also the Corruption State. AG Patrick Lynch has proposed legislation to make the latter illegal:

Amid the drumbeat of alleged public corruption scandals in Rhode Island, state legislators are considering a bill that would for the first time make it a felony to violate the public trust.

Currently — in what may be a surprise to the average Rhode Islander — the state well versed in public corruption has no law that makes such behavior illegal. State and local officials can be charged with bribery or embezzlement and a variety of related charges, but not with outright corruption. ...

The proposed law is modeled on the federal statute that was enacted in 1988, and would apply to public servants at all levels — from elected officials to state, municipal and contract employees. ...

The proposed law is modeled on the federal statute that was enacted in 1988, and would apply to public servants at all levels — from elected officials to state, municipal and contract employees.

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Is there an exemption to allow corruption by public officials if it is practiced indoors?

Posted by: John at March 19, 2008 8:10 AM

This will never pass. It's like giving drunk drivers the vote to create harsher sentences for themselves.

Posted by: Greg at March 19, 2008 8:33 AM

John, could be. But it's apparent there is a loophole that ignores the practice if one is a democrat.

Posted by: George at March 19, 2008 9:42 AM

George, that loophole only exists because the chief law enforcement officer is the brother of the head of the party of corruption in this state. If Spider-Boy prosecuted all the corruption his brother wouldn't have anybody left to lead!

Posted by: Greg at March 19, 2008 9:54 AM

One would hope that AG Lynch's intentions are honorable.

But this is Rhode Island, so one can't dismiss the possibility (likelihood? inevitability?) that it is a prearranged "wink and nod" deal that he gets to introduce the legislation to garner some election year good press before the next round of Operation Dollar Bill indictments, but that it was already understood and arranged that the legislation will die in committee.

It would be nice to see a real reform movement arise from within the RI Democrat Party (this coming from a Republican) - we'd all benefit - but I'm not holding my breath.

Posted by: Tom W at March 19, 2008 12:30 PM

It took him five years to propose this?

Posted by: Monique at March 20, 2008 11:32 AM
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