House Oversight seeks more efficient state government

A little over a month ago, I was proud to be appointed the chairwoman of the House Committee on Oversight. In my new role, my focus will be making government work for Rhode Islanders. I hear from my constituents often about various inconveniences caused by inefficient government, and I feel it is my job as an elected official to make sure our state government is running as smoothly as possible.
Under my leadership, the House Oversight Committee will analyze how well our state agencies are working and determine what needs to be done to improve services to Rhode Islanders. As legislators, we pass laws with the goal of improving our state. The role of the Oversight Committee, as I see it, is to look closely at how our laws have been implemented and if the results were what we had envisioned. Through thorough research and thoughtful communication with department staff, this is an opportunity to dig deep into programs that affect Rhode Islanders every day.
At my first hearing as chairwoman, I will focus on the Division on Taxation and why so many tax refunds were delayed this year. I have heard from many constituents who were waiting months for their checks and could not get through to the department for answers. Not only did they not receive their money in a timely fashion, but many spent hours trying to find out what happened. Rhode Islanders deserve better.
I have invited Robert Hull, director of the Department of Revenue, and Neena S. Savage, acting tax administrator, to give a presentation on what caused the delay of refunds this year, and most importantly, what the department is doing to fix the problem before next tax season. It is my priority that this issue is resolved quickly because, as of Jan. 1 of this year, Rhode Island will no longer tax Social Security income and there is the potential that even more Rhode Islanders will be eligible for refunds next year. I do not want this story to repeat itself.
Over the past three years as a member of the Oversight Committee, I was involved in the inquiry into the $75 million loan guarantee to 38 Studios. We held over a dozen hearings and staff reviewed approximately 9,000 document files. The committee heard testimony from Steven Costantino, former chairman of the House Finance Committee, staff from Deloitte LLP, Max Wistow, the lawyer representing the state in the court case, and representatives from the bond insurance industry to understand what went wrong in the deal and how to prevent it from happening in the future.
As a result of the work of the Oversight Committee there have been key legislative reforms, including the restructuring of the Economic Development Corporation into the Commerce Corporation, adding due diligence and limits on new economic development programs, and comprehensive lobbying reform. These reforms were passed to ensure that another debacle like 38 Studios does not happen again.
The book on 38 Studios has not been closed. The Attorney General has not concluded his criminal investigation. The state’s case against the major players in the loan guarantee continues to wind its way through the courts. In fact, Superior Court Judge Michael Silverstein just denied a request that the case be stalled. There is also a Securities Exchange Commission case. I am planning a hearing to update the public on 38 Studios, and the committee will continue to monitor the issue and will meet on an as-needed basis when new developments take place.
I am honored to have been appointed chairwoman of the House Oversight Committee. I look forward to the opportunity to delve into the workings of our state’s government and offer real solutions to some of the issues that negatively affect my constituents.
Patricia A. Serpa is a Democratic state representative from District 27 in West Warwick, Coventry and Warwick. She resides in West Warwick.

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