House Minority Leader Brian C. Newberry has called for a House Oversight investigation into RIDOT and its tactics with respect to passage of the recent tolling legislation. He sent the following letter to House Speaker Nick Mattiello on Friday morning.

“I write to request you open a House Oversight investigation into RIDOT and its tactics with respect to passage of the recent tolling legislation. It has come to my attention that several Democratic members of the House have written letters to constituents explaining their support for the recent tolling legislation by, in part, expressing fear that if they did not support the bill RIDOT might retaliate against their districts by, among other things, slowing down or stalling needed repair work and similar projects.

If these members have indeed been pressured it is an outrageous abuse of power by the Executive branch.  When I first heard of this last evening I dismissed it as unlikely but then I recalled that the bridge over which you drive to your office was mysteriously closed by RIDOT immediately after you announced your opposition to the original toll plan last spring.  I want to stress that all my dealings with RIDOT and in particular their legislative staff over the years have been nothing but professional and in fact their legislative lobbyist has been one of the best and most helpful I have dealt with.  I myself have seen no whiff of this pressure.

That said, it is quite possible that RIDOT officials are being pressured by higher ranking members of the Executive branch and/or that other Executive branch officials are indeed making quiet threats of this nature. Either way the public deserves a full explanation from the Executive branch and it in the interest of all House members to have this issue publicly aired out.

Thank you for your consideration.”

Speaker Mattiello issued the following statement in response to Leader Newberry’s letter:

“I appreciate the concerns expressed by Leader Newberry.  However, I have looked into the situation and if this issue was based on actual facts, I would request that an oversight hearing be held.  I have learned that the letter was written by a few Representatives based on their own personal concerns and not on any actions taken by the DOT.  I have found the DOT, under the new leadership of Director Alviti, to be very accommodating to the Representatives and the public.”