A group of dissident Democrats is trying to get House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello to share more of his power with rank and file lawmakers. Now, a conservative group, the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity, called for using a constitutional amendment to address that goal.
The center said legislative committees, rather than General Assembly leaders, should have more influence over which bills move forward. The conservative think tank also called for changing the way in which hundreds of bills get passed near the end of the legislative session.
Speaker Mattiello said he’s open to dialogue, but he has yet to support any changes to the legislative process.
An alliance between dissident Democrats and the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity appeared unlikely, since the center says the dissident have what it calls a radical agenda. The Democratic rebels say they want a more open and transparent legislature.
