PROVIDENCE – House Republicans are calling on Gov. Gina M. Raimondo to set a specific date for transferring power to Lt. Gov. Daniel J. McKee, who is set to replace her once she is confirmed as United States secretary of commerce.
So far, she has not given any indication on a date for her departure, nor has she made herself available to the media for questions since she was nominated.
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Raimondo, a Democrat, is scheduled to deliver her annual State of the State address virtually on Feb. 3, indicating that she expects to still be governor on that date.
In a letter sent to the governor Tuesday, House Republicans cited the “health, economic and social crises” facing Rhode Island as reasons for having the transference timetable defined, “or else the Ocean State will be rudderless between administrations.”
Republicans noted that a timely transition is needed to address “the COVID-19 pandemic, the estimated $500 million deficit in the next fiscal year, and deep tears in our social fabric.”
Since giving a brief Jan. 8 speech in Delaware accepting her nomination, Raimondo has spoken once publicly, during a Jan. 13 state health department update on the pandemic and vaccine rollout efforts.
Blake A. Filippi, the Republican minority leader, said the genesis for the letter was a result of a caucus meeting by Republicans in the House.
“It is just painfully obvious that this is the right move,” he said. “You can’t have an undetermined timetable. We can’t rely on 98 non-Rhode Island senators to choose when our next governor ascends to the office of governorship.”
Filippi said that Raimondo cannot sacrifice Rhode Island for her role as incoming commerce secretary. If she does both jobs at the same time, “Rhode Island will suffer,” he said.
“We know the governor loves our state,” said Filippi, “but we hope that she does the right thing.”
John Marion, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, said, “The House Republican request that Gov. Raimondo specify a date for her resignation is a valid one. There is nothing prohibiting the governor from making her resignation effective at a future date certain. If she were to make clear when she will leave her current office, it would add clarity to the transfer of power to Lt. Gov. Dan McKee,” a Democrat.
Marion also said that, “The current situation, with the governor not taking questions from local media, particularly while she continues to govern largely by executive order, is not sustainable.”
Audrey Lucas, spokeswoman for the governor, said in response to the GOP request that Raimondo “will continue leading Rhode Island throughout the confirmation process.”
McKee spokeswoman Andrea Palagi issued a statement saying, “The lieutenant governor has no comment regarding this specific letter. … [McKee] is working collaboratively with the governor and her administration to ensure a smooth transition that is in the best interest of all Rhode Islanders.”
(INSERTS last paragraph with comment from McKee spokeswoman.)
Cassius Shuman is a PBN staff writer. You may reach him at Shuman@PBN.com.
