MR. SPEAKER, STOP USING 911 FEES TO SAVE YOUR POLITICAL LIFE

Warwick, RI – According to multiple news reports, millions collected by Rhode Island’s 911 fee is not being used for the 911 system, but is instead being diverted to plug holes in Rhode Island’s budget. Speaker Nicholas Mattiello has indicated a willingness to make changes to the 911 fee, but he has so far refused to agree to restrict the use of 911 fees for the 911 system or to reduce the 911 fee. Meanwhile, Speaker Mattiello has put on the General Assembly’s payroll, Michael Cotugno, the son of Edward Cotugno, a shady mail ballot operative. Also, in the past fiscal year he has sponsored $158,000 in legislative grants.

R.I. Republican Party Chairman Brandon Bell commented: “The solution to the 911 fee controversy is simple: restrict and reduce. All revenue collected by the 911 fee should be put in a restricted account and only used for the 911 system. Because we collect more in 911 fees than is needed to operate the 911 system, the 911 fee should be reduced. Speaker Mattiello can make this happen.”

Bell continued: “Speaker Mattiello has expressed concerns about putting 911 fees in a restricted account because it may result in ‘bloated programs’ and a ‘slush fund’. The biggest slush fund and the largest bloated program in Rhode Island is the General Assembly’s budget. It is twice the size of New Hampshire’s legislative budget. Millions are spent every year on legislative grants to help politicians like Mattiello in their re-election campaigns. Although Rhode Island’s budget has a major structural deficit, there is always enough money in the General Assembly’s budget to hire political operatives or members of their families. 911 fees should be used only to save lives, not to save the political life of any state house politician.”