Rhode Island Lt. Governor Urges Law Change in Response to John Stephen's Paid "Volunteer" Work

by: DRicher

Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 13:42:42 PM EST

In response to $370,000 in questionable payments made to John Stephen and the Lucas Group for so-called volunteer work, Rhode Island's Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts is calling on lawmakers to fine public officials who violate bidding laws. The Rhode Island Attorney General has also been investigating the payments.

John Stephen, working for the Lucas Group, consulted with Rhode Island on its Medicaid program. Rhode Island officials - including secretary of the Office of Health and Human Services, Gary Alexander, who campaigned with Stephen and held a fundraiser for him - publicly stated for months that the work was on a volunteer basis.

It was later publicly revealed that John Stephen and the Lucas Group received $370,000 for this so-called "volunteer" work - money that was awarded without any competitive bidding process.

Rhode Island's Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts yesterday urged the Rhode Island Assembly to put in place stiff penalties for violating the state's competitive bidding requirements.

"I was shocked to learn that a company that offered services voluntarily to the state, that never went through an open, public-bidding process and never had a contract from the state, was able to turn around and secure payment, and the state had no recourse," Roberts said, according to the Providence Journal.

"John Stephen charged Rhode Island taxpayers $370,000 for volunteer work?" asked  Raymond Buckley, chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party.  "If that's what John Stephen charges for 'volunteer' work there is no way New Hampshire taxpayers can afford to elect him Governor."

"It is not surprising that the Rhode Island legislature has to consider changing its laws because of John Stephen's behavior. New Hampshire taxpayers can't afford John Stephen's type of no-bid, no-ethics arrangements that benefit him and his political cronies."  

"John Stephen worked for state government for years. He should know about competitive bidding. He should also know that volunteers are not supposed to get paid for their volunteer work for the state.  John Stephen obviously doesn't think those laws apply if they stand in the way of his personal gain.  New Hampshire can't afford someone like John Stephen who thinks ethics and the law doesn't apply to him."

The scandal is reminiscent of those in the Administration of Stephen's mentor, Craig Benson. Benson paid tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars to a so-called volunteer named Linda Pepin.

"John Stephen apparently learned everything he knows about ethics from Craig Benson - something that should scare the people of New Hampshire," Buckley said.

Click here to read he Providence Journal Story in full.

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(Posted by Derek Richer, Press Secretary of the New Hampshire Democratic Party)  

NH Political News and Open Thread

by: Jennifer Daler

Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 19:05:31 PM EST

"I think the time I most value was standing outside the polls, often sweltering on primary days in September and freezing on election days in November," Irwin said.

"It seems to me that those times, and all times, talking to the voters, hearing their concerns and asking for their votes, was the quintessence of what our way of government is about. And I treasure those times."

There will not be a special election to fill the seat unless Governor Lynch is asked and  he and the Executive Council approve.

In other news, Pindell reports (subscription required) that BAE executive Rich Ashooh will formally announce his candidacy for the Republican nomination to CD-01 tomorrow. And State Representative Frank Emiro (R-Londonderry) is expected to join Karen Testerman and Jack Kimball in the primary to face off against Governor Lynch this November.

Milford Cabinet: "Sign It, Governor"

by: Jennifer Daler

Fri May 08, 2009 at 10:42:22 AM EDT

The House vote to concur happened after press time:

Gov. John Lynch should immediately drop his opposition to gay marriage rights and sign into law whatever compromise bill comes to his desk from the state House and Senate.

I don't know how opposed the Governor was or is to marriage equality or even whether he is, given the clarity about religious institutions being free to do what they want. His previous quotes may have been taken out of context. One thing I know is that I have never, ever heard him promise to veto such legislation.

So, Gov. Lynch, sign the bill and let's put this issue behind us at last. In 10 years, nobody's going to remember that it was ever a "problem" just as no one cares any longer if a black man and a white woman, or a black woman and a white man, marry.

This is a newspaper serving small, "bright purple" towns, not a radical rag by any means. And I didn't notice any negative LTEs regarding their previous editorial on the subject.

Does Gov Lynch really represent us?

by: Will D

Mon Mar 30, 2009 at 17:14:47 PM EDT

The 4 Year Term for Governor

by: elwood

Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 21:10:36 PM EDT

I'm conflicted here.

Yes, the two-year term is too short. (And in anticipation: maybe if we knew we'd be stuck with the winner for four years, Benson wouldn't have happened.) It makes elections more expensive (just like painting your house twice as frequently is). It means that the Governor is running for re-election before s/he takes office. A longer term is, on balance, I think, better.

But does it really make sense to have a four year Governor surrounded by two-year Representatives, Senators, and Councilors?

And if we're going to try and fix state government: who really wants a Council? And who wants a County Register of Probate? voters as ignorant of the position as elwood is, electing a County Register of Probate?

Isn't it a bad idea to fix the left wheel on your car and defer work on the wobbly right?

Hey There, Mr. Raymond Buckley

by: robsprague

Thu Jan 01, 2009 at 13:42:45 PM EST

It's been almost two months since an election where the NH Democratic ticket did pretty well for themselves.

But, in the view of many of us in the State who call ourselves "liberals" or "progressives" things have been going downhill pretty rapidly.

Our governor (to steal a simile from Nobel-winner Paul Klugman) has been doing a terrific Herbert Hoover impression, slashing the budget. His cuts are going to hurt defenseless people. And, of course, he will have nothing to do with looking at new recurring sources because doing so might hurt his popularity.

City leaders throughout the State are canceling or postponing capital improvements and major infrastructural maintenance.

And, of course, the real challenges of our State - properly funding public education, providing property tax relief to the elderly and working-poor, and similar issues - are being totally ignored.

Meanwhile, fiscal reactionaries in the Republican Party have brought Sununu the Elder back to life. And they said that cryogenics wouldn't work! Sununu will push the discussion way to the right and things could deteriorate even further.

The challenge here is for Democrats to start acting like Democrats. The opportunity is for them to tackle the real issues, issues we have faced for decades.

You've been running around the State celebrating the fact that registered Dems now outnumber registered Republicans. With respect, thatis is not your job.

Your job is to set the terms of the debate. Force everyone to talk about real solutions to real problems. Stand up to Governor Hoover and challenge him to be the Democrat he claims to be. Demand that House and Senate leaders work with the Governor and, for once, make some tough decisions.

Because if this does not happen, if the Governor continues to pander and run away from real issues, then he will start to lose those of us on the Left who believe that a truly adequate public education is the right of every child, that the kids in Claremont deserve the same quality as the kids in New Castle.

It's been two years of nothing, Chairman Buckley. It's time for some Democratic action.

All best to you,

Robert Sprague
Nottingham, NH  

Gov. Lynch is going after the Poor

by: liberalus

Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 11:40:18 AM EDT

[Entire diary deleted. The author had cut-and-pasted a Union Leader editorial without attribution or link. This was both plagiarism and copyright violation. - elwood]

David Paterson Sworn in As Governor of NY

by: Jennifer Daler

Mon Mar 17, 2008 at 14:03:47 PM EDT

I wish Governor Paterson all the best as he takes on his new role as Democratic Governor of New York.