Roberts to propose legislation to penalize state employees for entering into unauthorized agreements

PROVIDENCE, RI - Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts today demanded answers from the administration on the no-bid, backroom deal that secured $370,000 in payments to a company that never had a contract with the state. A report in today’s Providence Journal highlights the fact that the public is being denied access to information about what the Lucas Group actually did to deserve payment as part of the negotiations for the Global Medicaid Waiver last fall.

“The simple fact remains that the public deserves an explanation as to why the state paid a vendor outside of purchasing laws and regulations, especially after the services were said, time and time again, to be voluntary,” Roberts said.

Additionally, there has been no explanation as to who authorized continuing to work with the vendor after a request for a sole-source contract was denied.

“Purchasing laws are not simply ‘bureaucracy’ put in place to constrain government – they are a set of standards to ensure that the people’s money is spent in a manner that is fair, appropriate, and not influenced by personal prerogatives and relationships.”

Roberts also announced her intention to propose legislation in the upcoming special legislative session that would prevent the state from incurring costs from vendors when purchasing laws are not followed.

“In current law, no state employee has the authority to enter into a contract, written or assumed, with a vendor for services without going through the proper purchasing procedures. I plan to submit legislation that would prevent a vendor from collecting payment for services rendered outside of the purchasing process, as well as enacting penalties for a state employee or official that engages a vendor without using these procedures,” Roberts added.

Related links