EDITORIAL

Government participation made easy

Posted 3/4/21

Parking anywhere near the State House when the General Assembly is in session can be an exercise in frustration. If you're lucky and arrive just as someone pulls out, you could get a metered space without having to put on hiking boots and pack a lunch to

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EDITORIAL

Government participation made easy

Posted

Parking anywhere near the State House when the General Assembly is in session can be an exercise in frustration.

If you’re lucky and arrive just as someone pulls out, you could get a metered space without having to put on hiking boots and pack a lunch to reach the seat of state government. Years ago, members of the news media were permitted to park on the east side of the State House on a rutted grassy area that could accommodate about eight cars. My fear was getting squeezed in, or worse, rolling down the steep embankment – but when you’re desperate for a parking place, you take chances.

Capitol Police put an end to that, but thanks to Katherine Gregg at the Providence Journal, a few press permit spaces were made available on Smith Street. Some is better than none.

Now, with COVID, there are spaces everywhere.

Representatives are meeting at the nearby Veterans Auditorium. Committee meetings are still held in the State House, or at least the House Finance Committee was Tuesday night. On Monday, I signed up to testify in support of legislation introduced by Rep. Evan Shanley that would make it easier for nonprofits that have gained legislative approval for a specialty license plate – such as that for the Food Bank – to have their plate produced. As the law stands now, the organization must gain 600 pre-paid orders before the DMV issues the plates. Shanley proposes reducing the threshold to 150 pre-orders and paying $3,000 to the DMV for the plates. Charity plates, as they’re called by the DMV, generate funds for the nonprofit, so the $3,000 would be recovered with future sales.

Currently, nine organizations are looking to meet the 600-order threshold, ranging from the Gaspee Days Committee and the Rocky Point Foundation to the Boy Scouts and Providence College. Many of these organizations have been taking orders for the past three to four years. While new orders trickle in, each year some people give up hope of getting their plate and ask for their money back.

It’s frustrating – two steps forward and one back. Even worse, what started off as a good thing to show pride and help raise funds for good causes has become a downer.

This is not the first time Rep. Shanley has sought to ease the path for organizations having won legislative approval for a specialty plate. As a member of the Rocky Point Foundation, I’ve testified in support of the measure for the last two years.

This year, as we all know, is different. COVID has taken a lot from us.

Yet, following the House Finance Committee and testifying was remarkably easy. I did it all in front of my laptop and over my cell phone. I made my request to be heard online and received a confirmation call the day before. Also online were instructions to submit written testimony. Participation in the governmental process is easy, although over-the-phone testimony is lacking. It’s sterile.

Under the guidelines set by Committee Chair Rep. Marvin Abney, all bills heard Tuesday night were held in committee and there was no debate among committee members. Members asked questions and in the case of the Shanley bill there was testimony from several speakers, including DMV Director “Bud” Craddock who opposed the measure on grounds that it would cost the division $35,000 to program computers for the accounting of each of the nonprofits. Shanley observed if that is the case, lowering the threshold would make no difference since the division would still face the cost. The committee received 30 comments favoring the legislation.

Will those who support Gaspee Days, Rocky Point, the Saltwater Anglers and Providence College be capable of getting their plates sooner than later? That’s for legislators to decide.

On the plus side, participation in government has been made easy. You can watch proceedings over dinner with a glass of wine and wait to be called.

And best of all, you don’t have to find a parking place.

government, participation

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