Ocean State Today

Today, the Rhode Island Ethics Commission initiated steps to tighten the state's "gift rule" following advocacy by Common Cause Rhode Island in 2024. The push for stricter regulations came after a report revealed that Governor Daniel McKee accepted substantial free consulting services while directing a significant state contract to the ILO Group, LLC, which had connections to the organization providing the gift.

John Marion, Executive Director of Common Cause Rhode Island, expressed appreciation for the commission's actions: “We are grateful the Rhode Island Ethics Commission took this necessary and urgent initial step,” he stated. He emphasized that this is just the beginning of efforts to ensure accountability among state leaders. “This is just the beginning of a process that must result in Rhode Island strengthening ethics laws so that our leaders are accountable to the people, not the highest bidder., We will continue to press the Commission to make our gift laws a strong one so we can have total and full confidence in how our state leaders are representing us.”

In December 2024, Common Cause Rhode Island urged the commission to expand restrictions on gifts from registered lobbyists. Currently, gifts are restricted only if they come from an "interested person," who might gain financially from decisions made by public employees or officials. The group argues that gifts from lobbyists present a conflict of interest regardless of financial benefit.