The Newport Democratic City Committee has taken a position on the six ballot questions facing us in this election, as follows:
Question 1: NO
Bond Measure 2: YES
Bond Measure 3: YES
Bond Measure 4: YES
Bond Measure 5: YES
Bond Measure 6: YES
Question 1 is on the ballot because our Rhode Island constitution, Article 14, Section 2, says every 10 years voters must be asked, “Shall there be a convention to amend or revise the Constitution?” Our answer is a resounding “NO”! A coalition of Rhode Island civic organizations make the case against Question 1 (see RI Constitutional Convention? Reject Question 1 | ACLU of Rhode Island). We stand with them.
RI has two ways to amend the state constitution. We believe the more functional method is for the General Assembly to put a question on the ballot for voters to approve. Examples are the separation of powers amendment approved in 2004 removing legislators from commissions like the Coastal Resources Management Council, and the 2006 amendment restoring voting rights to those on parole and probation.
The second is holding a constitutional convention. In this case seventy-five delegates, one from each House district, are elected to serve for this purpose only. They are not accountable to their constituents, and set their own agenda. They debate with little public input and decide on policy issues to be placed on the ballot. It is a unicameral body without any checks and balances. The convention delegates can propose sweeping changes that could, for instance, undermine women’s reproductive rights, workers’ rights, and civil rights for all Rhode Islanders. They did that in 1986.
1986 was the last year any state constitutional convention was held in this country. It was here in Rhode Island. The push for that convention was supposedly about “reforming” government, but the most significant and controversial proposal to come out of that convention was a constitutional amendment declaring that “life begins at conception,” designed to ban abortion in the state. In fact, that convention passed not one, but two, amendments to restrict reproductive freedom. The convention approved so many constitutional amendments – 25 in all – that to fit them on the ballot, the amendments were bundled into 14 confusing ballot questions. As a result, if you wanted to support, for example, adding a “free speech” clause to the Constitution, you also had to vote for a bundled provision eliminating legal protection for abortion rights.
In the current political environment, a constitutional convention would be vulnerable to the manipulations of “dark money,” since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled there’s no limit on how much money outside interests can spend on a special interest campaign to influence voters. We don’t need a constitutional convention to change our constitution. Let’s do that through our existing process, which involves elected officials subject to transparency, and financial and ethical disclosures. Our state constitution is not for sale. Vote NO on Question 1.
Bond questions 2 through 5 will finance projects and address issues that are important to Newporters. Question 2 will address our concerns about the shortage of doctors in RI by establishing a biomedical research center at URI, which will attract medical talent to the state, and could provide the foundation for a medical school at URI. Question 3 addresses our housing crisis by funding more affordable housing and assisting with home ownership. Question 4 includes funding to repair Newport’s Cliff Walk, and Question 5 provides funding for Newport Contemporary Ballet’s new home. Vote YES on Questions 2 through 5.
Bond question 6 addresses our own failing infrastructure here in Newport. Mentioned specifically are beach and harbor facilities, sewers, drainage, landfill remediation, and City-owned buildings. Now that we’ve been made aware of the appalling deferred maintenance that has plagued Newport due to budget constraints, we cannot afford to continue this head-in-the-sand approach to stewardship of our assets. Our current council has identified federal funding to help, but we MUST PASS this bond if we want to unlock that federal funding, which will provide a 4X match to our municipal spending. The residents of Newport deserve a YES on Question 6.
Susan Taylor
Chair, Newport Democratic City Committee
