TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for May 15, 2026

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Even after 15 years in the General Assembly, newly minted Rhode Island Speaker Chris Blazejewski appreciates the axiom that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. That explains why Blazejewski made a surprising move less than a week after his elevation as speaker, using the considerable power of his office to propose creating a state office of inspector general. It’s a bold and unexpected play, since legislative leaders have tamped down IG proposals for years. But it’s also smart politics, on a number of levels: grabbing the mantle of reform sends an out-of-the-gate message about Blazejewski’s leadership with Majority Leader Katherine Kazarian. It helps to balance their support for other measures – such as a millionaires’ tax – that face more opposition. And backing a move to boost government efficiency dovetails with anxiety about Trump administration cuts and widespread affordability concerns. The same concept resonates with Rhode Islanders frustrated about serial failures, including the Washington Bridge and the state payroll system. “Rhode Island is facing a moment that demands a new approach,” Blazejewski told reporters Thursday during a meeting in his third-floor Statehouse office. “Given what the state is facing from Washington, D.C., and given what we have seen in our own backyard, we believe at this time that such an office (of inspector general) is critical to ensuring that the state is spending each and every dollar as efficiently and effectively as possible.”

Not surprisingly, the inspector general concept – like a lot of proposed reforms of state government, many of which were enacted – gathered steam after the state banking crisis. In 1991, the late ProJo editorial columnist Brian Dickinson proposed creating an inspector general. Then, in 1993, a state senator called for establishing the office through a constitutional amendment. Now, 33 years later, lawmakers could approve an inspector general with stunning speed, with just about a month left in the legislative session. The proposal attracted praise across the board, from Gov. Dan McKee and Democratic rival Helena Foulkes, to House GOP Leader Michael Chippendale (R-Foster) – “We are encouraged that the Speaker appears to be coalescing with us on this important reform.” With the IG bill due to be introduced Tuesday, it could get a hearing in the House Finance Committee as soon as Thursday, before potentially landing in the House version of the state budget, giving the proposal fierce momentum.

Suffice it to say, the devil is in the details of any proposal and Speaker Blazejewski acknowledged to one of my questions that it’s hard to take the politics out of politics. Blazejewski nonetheless proposed the IG concept as far back as 2015, a year after he wound up on the losing side of a House leadership fight. He credited Reps. Charlene Lima (D-Cranston), Evan Shanley (D-Warwick) and George Nardone (R-Coventry) “who have kept the conversation going in recent years.” As Blazejewski explained it, his proposal builds on similar efforts in Delaware and South Carolina. Establishing an IG would cost less than $2 million a year, he said, and applicants would be screened by a group of general officers and others, with the governor making the final pick. Asked if the proposal is an attempt to inoculate his Democratic membership against primary challengers backed by the League of Rhode Island Businesses, Blazejewski said, “Not at all. I see this as a completely nonpartisan issue. Restoring trust is critical, especially in this time where there’s a lack of trust in federal government, there’s declining trust in state government. I think this is one way we can say we hear the public and we’re going to act in a way that’s responsible to try to restore that trust.”

What’s it like being a federal judge facing death threats after hearing cases against the Trump administration? John J. McConnell Jr., chief judge of U.S. District Court in Providence, spoke with me about that during an interview on One on One this week. We also discussed the clash between his colleague, U.S. District Court Judge Melissa DuBose and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the low public standing of the U.S. Supreme Court, how his thinking on criminal justice has evolved, and more. Watch the full conversation here or at 7:30 pm Friday or 10:30 am Sunday on Ocean State Media TV.

Local control is a deeply held conviction in communities across New England. But as I first reported this week, it’s unclear if Smithfield will be able to stop a business complex with a data center from being built on undeveloped land behind Fidelity Investments. On May 5, a crowd of residents urged the Town Council to vote to ban data centers in the northern Rhode Island town. But the company making the proposal, Hanton City Investments LLC, filed its application ahead of the vote, so the concept is still alive. Smithfield’s planner said a variance is required for the project to move ahead, a lawyer for Hanton City disagrees, and the company’s proposal may hinge on whether it gets tax breaks through the General Assembly. Town Council President John Tassoni expects the whole thing to wind up as a court fight. Residents fear the data center would degrade Smithfield and its quality of life. But Sen. Louis DiPalma (D-Middletown) calls data centers part of the future economy and he said Rhode Island could lose out if they are not established here with appropriate safeguards.

***The Pawtucket Democratic City Committee endorsed Jack Reed for Senate, Dan McKee for governor, Gabe Amo in CD1, Xaykham Khamsyvoravong for LG, Joe Solomon for AG, James Diossa for general treasurer and Gregg Amore for secretary of state.

***Better than expected state revenue will sharpen the debate around a proposed millionaires’ tax, but Gov. McKee and other supporters have not backed away. Meanwhile, McKee submitted a detailed letter outlining his thoughts on how the added revenue should be used.

***GOP candidate for lieutenant governor John Loughlin, a staunch opponent of the millionaires’ tax, is widely considered the best Republican prospect of this election year in Rhode Island. On Monday, Loughlin demonstrated his moxie by proposing to transform the LG’s office by giving it the functions of an inspector general. Three days later, the House leadership unveiled its own plan.

***More moves by Speaker Blazejewski. He’s named Danica Iacoi as the first female chief of staff for a speaker and special legal counsel. She succeeds Raymond D. Simone as CoS. TGIF has learned that Henry Kinch Jr. will continue as executive director of the powerful Joint Committee on Legislative Services. Blazejewski named Rep. Kathy Fogarty (D-South Kingstown) as first assistant speaker, Rep. Alex Marszalkowski (D-Cumberland) as second assistant speaker, Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Tiverton) returns after a gap to his previous role as floor manager, and Rep. Karen Alzate (D-Pawtucket) is deputy floor manager.

***Blazejewski marks the second consecutive speaker whose surname is subject to various pronunciations. His predecessor, Joe Shekarchi, was variously called Shh-Karchi or Suh-Karchi. Blazejewski said his correct pronunciation is Blaz-uh-JOO-ski, although some lawmakers and pundits skip the second syllable. This brings to mind former Providence Mayor Angel Taveras, who was open to different pronunciations of his name, particularly if his audience leaned more to Portuguese or Dominican voters.

***With Kevin Warsh set to replace Jerome Powell as chairman of the Federal Reserve, it’s a good time to remember a Rhode Island connection to the powerful overseer of federal monetary policy. In the late 19th century, Rhode Island U.S. Senator Nelson Aldrich – described by Theodore Roosevelt as the “kingpin” of the Republican Party – created a precursor to the Fed. And Aldrich was one of six men attending a secret meeting in 1910 at the Jekyll Island Club, off the Georgia coast, to lay the foundation for the Federal Reserve System.

***The West Warwick GOP this week announced the first primary debates between Republican candidates for governor and in CD2, starting at 6 pm, June 9 at Club Frontenac in WW. Aaron Guckian and Elaine Pelino will square off at 6:30 pm, followed by Stephen Skoly and Victor Mellor at 7:30 pm. The moderators will be RIGOP National Committeewoman Sue Cienki and RIGOP National Committeeman Thomas Carroll.

The RI Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing Thursday on a resolution submitted by Judiciary Chairman Matthew LaMountain (D-Warwick). The resolution seeks a Rhode Island Supreme Court advisory opinion on the constitutionality of a bill pushing back the statute of limitations for sexual abuse of children by clergy. Critics say this amounts to surrendering the role of lawmakers to pass bills, adding that it will delay efforts to bring justice for victims. “In our system of separated powers, it is the legislative branch that makes policy decisions in the first instance,” retired federal Judge William E. Smith wrote in a letter to the committee. Smith and Attorney General Peter Neronha (who submitted a 15-page letter) were among those testifying against the measure, which was held for further study. LaMountain defended his approach, via a recent statement: “I know that there are some who would prefer that the legislature simply pass this bill and let it be challenged. However, that is not only shirking our responsibility as lawmakers but also taking a more circuitous route to providing judicial remedy. Failure to conduct this diligence would force those who bring a case to relive their trauma several times during judicial proceedings, likely over the course of several years, potentially only to have the underlying statute overturned in the courts. I believe that the victims, who have undergone so much, deserve an efficient means of redress, and the most direct way to have the constitutional question resolved is through an advisory opinion.”

You never see a vote at the Statehouse unless leadership thinks it has a count in its favor. But the calculus could be different when the Providence City Council votes Friday night, after the deadline for this column, to override Mayor Brett Smiley’s veto of a rent stabilization ordinance. It’s unclear if Council President Rachel Miller has the votes to pull off the override. Even if not, the vote will make for grist in the mill of the 2026 election, with rent stabilization supporters (and Smiley’s mayoral rival, David Morales) pointing to who opposed the override, perhaps due to a big haul in campaign contributions. In related news, Morales picked up an endorsement from progressive icon U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, something that might help boost his fundraising balance ($118,870), compared with Smiley ($1,354,722), as of the most recent filings.

Gina Raimondo continues to get a mention in pieces about potential presidential candidates for 2028, even if she faces an uphill battle in advancing far in the process. A Sam Sifton story in The New York Times this week offers this assessment of her as part of a very large field of prospects: (She) “appeals to donors but is not well known.”

Get ready to “shell-ebrate.” The 10th Annual Quahog Week is happening from May 17-23. According to RI DEM, “This week-long event ‘shell-ebrates’ the cultural and economic importance of the quahog, Rhode Island’s official state clam. The event promotes local seafood while honoring the dedicated harvesters and the vibrant local food industry that brings fresh quahogs to tables across the state. During Quahog Week, restaurants and markets statewide will feature special quahog dishes. In its tenth year, the event is expected to draw a record number of participants.” There are public events during the week at the Tiverton Farmers Market, the Narragansett Brewery in Providence, and Newport Craft and Distillery. And of course, one of the greatest bygone Rhode Island blog names was Quantum Quahog.