Our Issues

Rhode Islanders for Fair Elections is committed to policy that makes possible a government of, by, and for the people of Rhode Island. We strive to remove the invidious influence of money in politics through our legislative priorities:

The Transparency in Political Spending Act (TiPS) would beef up disclosure and disclaimer requirements on independent expenditures designed to influence Rhode Island elections. By shedding light on where groups’ money is coming from, Rhode Island voters would be empowered to make informed decisions in the voting booth. The TiPS act was introduced on February 16, 2012 by Rep. Chris Blazejewski and Sen. Juan Pichardo, with the support of Governor Lincoln Chafee, Senate President M. Teresa Paiva-Weed, and House Speaker Gordon Fox.

The Fair Elections Act implements an innovative solution to rising campaign costs and the influence of special interest money in Rhode Island state politics. Under a fair elections system, any candidate that demonstrates a broad base of grassroots support can qualify to receive a limited amount of public funding while campaigning. In spring 2011, we successfully passed legislation convening a study commission on the feasibility of statewide fair elections, and are waiting for the results to be reported back.