The cons keep lobbying hard as constitutional convention preparatory commission goes about its work

The bipartisan commission evaluating the pros and cons of the once-in-a-decade chance for Rhode Island to hold a constitutional convention is nearly halfway done with its work gathering material for an informational guide for voters.

And after hearing more testimony, mostly from opponents, on Thursday at the State House, commissioners said they are positive they will have a draft report ready within the next 20 days.

The commission has three more meetings scheduled, with the next one scheduled for 7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 14, at the Community College of Rhode Island’s Flanagan campus in Lincoln.

“That will be an opportunity to give the public a chance to go someplace other than the State House,” Rep. Robert Craven, a North Kingstown Democrat who co-chairs the commission, said. “Just as importantly, it’s after work for most people.”

The 12-member panel will again reconvene at the State House on Wednesday, Aug. 21, and Wednesday, Aug. 28. At their final meeting, commissioners are expected to review the contents of the voter handbook mailed to all registered voters before the Nov. 5 election. 

The commission must complete the report by Sept. 1.

“It’s tight,” Sen. Dawn Euer, a Newport Democrat who serves as the other co-chair, acknowledged in an interview after the meeting.

Proponents from both ends of political spectrum see wisdom of holding constitutional convention

Euer said the panel is still awaiting a finalized estimate for what it would cost if a convention were held in 2026.  When the last convention was held in 1986, the final tab was $891,000 — or roughly $2.6 million today when adjusted for inflation.

The question of whether to hold a convention typically goes on the ballot in years ending in the number four, but voters have not agreed to convene one in over three decades.

Opponents say that’s been done for a reason. When the 37-member Rhode Island Citizens for Responsible Government launched its campaign last month to persuade voters to reject the convention question in November, group leaders described the state’s last meeting as a disaster for civil liberties.

The group has repeatedly pointed to the proposed Paramount Right to Life Amendment declaring that life begins at conception. That measure was ultimately defeated by voters in 1986, but coalition members said it could always come back with the backing of outside interest groups in the wake of the Citizens United ruling in 2010.

“It wasn’t the law of the land when the Constitution was written and wasn’t the law of the land the last time we had a constitutional convention here,” Rhode Island AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Patrick Crowley told commissioners Thursday. “I think that changes the game.”

Rhode Island State Constitutional Convention Clearinghouse Editor J.H. Snider said in written testimony that whatever flaws the Citizens United ruling created, “it is important to understand that it created no obstacles to dramatically improving campaign finance disclosure for state ballot measures.”

“Consequently, a Rhode Island constitutional convention could seek modern, high-quality campaign finance ballot measure disclosure laws for Rhode Island,” Snider wrote.

Common Cause Rhode Island Executive Director John Marion presented testimony highlighting the state’s strict disclosure requirements, which require political action committees that spend more than $1,000 to disclose the identity of all its donors.

Crowley argued that holding a convention “circumvents the power of the people.” Should a majority of Rhode Islanders want to move ahead with a convention in November, the state would have to set up a special election to select 75 convention delegates to represent each district in the House of Representatives.

R.I. constitutional convention ballot question opponents mobilize to convince voters to just say no

Crowley told commissioners that unlike members of the General Assembly, convention delegates are not beholden to any constituencies.

“They have a one-shot opportunity to make decisions, and they don’t face the voters again,” he said.

ACLU of Rhode Island Executive Director Steven Brown said he was concerned delegates may come up with so many amendments that unpopular ones might be bundled with more positive reforms.

“There are lots of good ideas for changing our constitution, but [it’s] something that should be done sparingly,” he said.

Brown called on the commission’s report to include any possible changes that could be brought up even if they weren’t proposed during testimony before the panel. Rep. Arthur Corvese, a North Providence Democrat on the commission, called that charge “egregious.”

“I don’t think it’s the responsibility of this committee to have a crystal ball — to provide the public with a laundry list of things that might occur,” Corvese said.

In addition to its upcoming meetings at CCRI and the State House, the commission will accept written testimony through 4 p.m Friday, Aug. 23, via its email address: [email protected].