Rhode Island

RI advocacy group files complaint over McKee’s ILO controversy. What to know.

Published

1 year ago

December 19, 2024

RI advocacy group files complaint over McKee’s ILO controversy. What to know.

PROVIDENCE –The citizens-advocacy group Common Cause has filed a complaint against the political ally at the center of the “ILO” contract controversy that has dogged Gov. Dan McKee since he ascended to the state’s top office in March 2021.

Though Attorney General Peter Neronha found insufficient evidence to file a criminal charge against anyone connected to the “ham-handed” award of a $5.2 million education consulting contract to ILO, Common Cause Rhode Island on Thursday filed a complaint with the secretary of state against McKee ally Michael Magee.

What is Common Cause alleging?

The allegation: That Magee aggressively lobbied the executive branch to award a contract to the newly created ILO Group headed by Julia Rafal-Baer – who had been an associate at his nonprofit “Chiefs for Change” – without officially registering as a lobbyist.

In a letter to the lobbying arm of Secretary of State Gregg Amore’s office, Common Cause Rhode Islandrequested an investigation of Magee’s alleged failure to register as a lobbyist, as well as sanctions for his alleged violation of the state’s lobbying law.

Filed by Common Cause Executive Director John Marion, the letter references documents released by Neronha and the Rhode Island State Police in late October, at the conclusion of their investigation into the awarding of a state contract to the ILO Group, LLC.

“The investigation into how the ILO Group was awarded a state contract exposed politics at its worst, including a procurement process full of back-scratching,” Marion said Thursday.

“We are disappointed that the state’s public integrity laws did not protect against the unethical behavior revealed in the ILO Group investigations,” Marion continued. “While ultimately few may be held accountable, Rhode Islanders deserve to know this behavior won’t be repeated.”

Among the findings Common Cause cited as evidence of unregistered lobbying:

A Zoom call on March 5, 2021 with McKee, the governor’s then-Chief of Staff Anthony Silva, then-Director of Administration James Thorsen and state Purchasing Agent Nancy McIntyre during which “Magee introduced the idea of hiring ILO as a consulting firm.”
“Following that meeting, Magee sent an email to Thorsen and McIntyre in which he attempted to narrow the field of those firms able to bid on the contract by including terms favorable to ILO.”
“The state police [concluded] that, ‘When read in the context of Magee’s prior communications tothe governor’s office, his advocating for one vendor to DOA officials suggests Magee’s continued intent to have [ILO Group CEO, Julia] Rafal-Baer receive the contract.’”

Common Cause also requests an Ethics Commission investigation

Based on Neronha’s publicly reported findings, Common Cause also petitioned the state’s Ethics Commission to amend its gift rules to encompass the unusual situation that came to light during the attorney general’s ILO probe.

The investigators uncovered a previously undisclosed contract in which Chiefs for Change engaged another company, SKDK, at $15,000-a-month, to provide then-Lt. Gov. McKee and his staff with advise in the lead up to his ascent to governor.

In the petition to the Ethics Commission, Marion noted the narrow wording of the current $25 limit on gifts from those who have a “direct financial interest in a decision that the person subject to the Code of Ethics is authorized to make or participate in [making] as part of his or her official duties.”

“Common Cause Rhode Island believes that the current requirement that there be a financial nexus for the ‘gift rule’ to apply is insufficiently protective of the public interest,” he wrote.

He asked the Commission to amend the gift rule to include “lobbyists as a class.”

His argument: “When registered lobbyists, who by definition are paid to influence public officials, are giving gifts to those same public officials, it undermines ‘the public trust,’ gives the ‘appearance of impropriety,’ and suggeststhat public officials are using their official positions for ‘private gain.’”

He also asked:

That the Commission require public officials and employees to disclose any gift received if, “under the totality of the circumstances, it is more likely than not” they would not have received the gift were it not for their public office or position.
That the Commission to consider a policy to “better protect the procurement process from political interference.”

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Rhode Island

GoLocalProv | News | Gov. McKee’s Schedule for the First 10 Days of the New Year

Published

2 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

GoLocalProv | News | Gov. McKee’s Schedule for the First 10 Days of the New Year

Saturday, January 10, 2026

GoLocalProv News Team

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Governor Dan McKee PHOTO: GoLocal

It’s a new year, filled with new challenges. The General Assembly is back in session. Rhode Island’s economy is flat at best, and according to the University of Rhode Island economist Leonard Lardaro, the state is in a recession. Rhode Island is also in daily legal conflict with the Trump administration.

Add that the state is trying to recover from a mass shooting at Brown University, which killed two students and wounded nine others.

For Governor Dan McKee, it is a critical time.

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He has announced he is running for reelection—the Democratic primary is just nine months away.

McKee’s poll numbers have plummeted to record lows.

A poll released by the University of New Hampshire in November of 2025 found that in the race for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Rhode Island, 29% of likely Democratic primary voters (N=359) say they would currently vote for former CVS executive Helena Foulkes, 13% would vote for Speaker of the RI House of Representatives Joe Shekarchi, 11% would vote for incumbent Governor Dan McKee, 6% would write in someone else, and 42% are undecided.

Is the 74-year-old McKee criss-crossing the state to reassure Rhode Islanders, listening to residents’ ideas, and sharing his vision for the state in his second term?

GoLocal offers a recap of the McKees’ public schedule for the first ten days of the month.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10 & SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 2026

No public events.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2026

No public events.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

2:00 PM

Governor McKee will deliver remarks at the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty’s 18th Annual Interfaith Poverty Vigil.

LOCATION:

RI State House Rotunda

82 Smith Street

Providence, RI

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2026

No public events.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2026

No public events.

MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2026

9:30 AM

Governor McKee will deliver remarks at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new community learning center at the Cross’ Mills Public Library.

LOCATION:

Cross’ Mills Public Library

4417 Old Post Road

Charlestown, RI

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3 & SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2026

No public events.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2026

11:00 AM

Governor McKee will join members of Rhode Island’s Congressional Delegation and local and state leaders for a rally hosted by Climate Action RI, Climate Jobs RI, and the AFL-CIO in support of Revolution Wind and other offshore wind projects.

LOCATION:

CIC Providence

225 Dyer Street

Providence, RI

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2026

No public events.

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Rhode Island

GoLocalProv | Politics | Providence On Sunday Is One of the Sites for a National Protest Against ICE

Published

14 hours ago

January 10, 2026

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GoLocalProv | Politics | Providence On Sunday Is One of the Sites for a National Protest Against ICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

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Protest in Providence in June against ICE PHOTO: GoLocal

Organizers in Rhode Island and across the country are mobilizing against ICE after a pair of shootings in the past few days.

Organizers locally said, “Rhode Islanders will gather on Sunday to honor the life lost, make visible the human cost of ICE’s actions, and demand that state and federal leaders reject local contracts with ICE, take every action possible to stop ICE from operating in Rhode Island, and hold ICE agents accountable when they break the law.”

The RI event begins at 2 PM at the State House on Sunday.

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Nationally, it was a announced on Friday that, “A broad national coalition, including Indivisible, MoveOn Civic Action, the American Civil Liberties Union, Voto Latino, United We Dream, 50501, the Disappeared in America Campaign of the Not Above the Law coalition, and partner organizations across the country, is calling for a coordinated ICE Out For Good Weekend of Action.

“The mobilization comes in response to the escalation of ICE violence in our communities, the killing of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old wife and mother of three, and the months-long pattern of unchecked violence and abuse in marginalized communities across America. Across the country, communities will gather in nonviolent, lawful, and community-led actions to honor the life lost, demand accountability, and make visible the human cost of ICE’s actions,” said organizers.

Organizers added, “Good and the Portland victims are part of a broader and deeply alarming pattern of unchecked violence and abuse by federal immigration enforcement agencies. In September, ICE reportedly shot and killed Silverio Villegas González, a father and cook from Mexico living in Chicago. In 2025 alone, more than 30 people have reportedly died in ICE detention.”

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Rhode Island

Rhode Island General Assembly Begins 2026 Session With Focus on Affordability – Newport Buzz

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Rhode Island General Assembly Begins 2026 Session With Focus on Affordability – Newport Buzz

PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island lawmakers opened the 2026 legislative session this week with a focus on health care affordability, housing costs and economic stability, as leaders in both chambers warned of uncertainty tied to federal budget changes.

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi outlined House priorities centered on expanding access to health care while lowering costs, calling it the chamber’s top agenda item for the year. He also said lawmakers will continue addressing housing shortages and rising home energy costs, emphasizing the need for community input as policy decisions move forward.

In the Senate, President Valarie J. Lawson convened the chamber by urging bipartisan cooperation and announcing plans to introduce legislation supporting education, small businesses and the state’s health care system. Stabilizing hospitals and strengthening the primary care workforce were identified as key goals.

Both chambers paused to honor victims of the Dec. 13 shooting at Brown University, passing resolutions recognizing the victims and commending first responders. Lawmakers also observed a moment of silence.

New legislation introduced by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara would require the Department of Education to adopt a zero-tolerance hazing policy in partnership with the Rhode Island Interscholastic League, mandating clear and consistent discipline statewide.

Meanwhile, Reps. David Morales and Jennifer Stewart called on Gov. Dan McKee to fully fund public libraries in the upcoming state budget.

Speaker Shekarchi also announced several committee leadership changes, appointing Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee as chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee and Rep. Mary Ann Shallcross Smith as chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee.

The week also marked the first Senate session for Sen. Stefano V. Famiglietti, who received committee assignments following his election to fill a vacant seat.

Legislative leaders capped the week by joining faith leaders at the 18th annual Rhode Island Interfaith Poverty Vigil at the State House, calling attention to legislation aimed at reducing poverty statewide.

Temporary erosion protection systems installed at Second Beach in Middletown, Rhode Island

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