The fractured working relationship between Gov. Gina M. Raimondo and legislative leaders from her own party in the Democrat-controlled General Assembly is again on public display.
Gov. Raimondo filed a lawsuit in Superior Court on Oct. 22 arguing a provision of the fiscal 2020 budget requiring legislative approval of marijuana and hemp regulations is a violation of separation-of-powers law. Her argument appears sound, as even House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello, D-Cranston, and Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio, D-Providence, seem to realize. They claimed in a joint statement that they had already agreed to remove the language from the budget granting them veto power, after learning of the governor’s strong objections.
The most pressing concern for Rhode Island voters, however, is the inability of the two sides to resolve differences before their distrust and lack of cooperation once again became public amid a volley of potshots.
A new state loan fund also approved without Gov. Raimondo’s input as part of the current budget also led to withering public criticism in recent weeks from both sides.
Their increasing inability to find common ground while it matters has already cost the state something tangible that will become clearer in 2021: That’s when the Pawtucket Red Sox start playing in Worcester, Mass.
Both sides need to dig deeper in their political playbooks to find ways to work more effectively together. If they don’t, the dysfunction will be an invitation to voters they and their party may regret sending.
