Rep. Morgan Proposes Legislative Grant Lottery

PROVIDENCE, RI—The dramatic resignation earlier this month of former Rep. Ray Gallison from the House of Representatives, who simultaneously gave up his powerful seat at the head of the House Finance Committee, has prompted new scrutiny on the cloudy legislative grant process that doles out millions to local groups every year.

Rep. Patricia Morgan of Coventry and West Warwick on Wednesday has proposed a lottery system to randomize the grant program to "make the process accountable to taxpayers."

The doling out of money through the legislative grant program helps lawmakers deliver resources to charities, youth sports organizations and other local groups to their home communities. It also creates great opportunities for photo ops.

But a lack of detailed accountability about how the money is spent, along with no real rhyme or reason as to which requests submitted by legislators to the speaker of the house end up getting approved, has made the program the focus on regular criticism over the years.

The revelation that Gallison was collecting thousands from a group funded almost entirely by the grant program has finally caused the program to get formal scrutiny. The Speaker of the House, Nicholas Mattiello, temporarily halted the program to conduct an audit. Recipients are now answering questions about what they do with the money and why they're important.

For Morgan, those measures aren't enough and "It is evident that either the program must be eliminated or it must be reformed," she said in a news release. "Rhode Islanders are tired of reading scandals in the newspaper and of misappropriated tax money."

Her plan would be as follows:

1,000 grants of $1,000 each would be created. Any group, ranging from Little League teams to parade committees would apply with a detailed description of need. Qualifying applications would be put in a pool, and 250 would be selected randomly on a quarterly basis.

"With this raffle format and in contrast to the current process of today, Rhode Island would have an accountable, transparent, and fair process. Every organization would be treated equally, regardless of rank or connection in the State House. Every organization would have an equal and honest chance to receive needed funds" Morgan said.

Morgan acknowledged that she has applied for and helped deliver legislative grants to her district. She said that she knows that most of the money goes to good causes. But, she said, "I have always disagreed with the process."