FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

High Profile Orgs & Individuals Defend Broken Status Quo Even After Admission of Wrongdoing by S.O.S.

Renews Call for Governor to Appoint an Independent Investigator

Providence, RI – Even after a statement from Rhode Island’s Secretary of State acknowledging that the research released yesterday by Ken Block exposed a problem that needs fixing, supporters of the state’s status quo quickly and dutifully fell in line to cast inaccurate accusations about the message and the messenger.

Conversely, the Governor and the Secretary of State remained silent with regard to the calls to action issued by the Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity yesterday. Bold action and clear statements from political leaders would help comfort the voters of Rhode Island that the state’s election process is being conducted legally and with proper integrity.

“The responses so far are both inadequate and bizarre. While one might expect the state’s Democrat Party to blindly defend the practices of its own, I did not expect a commissioner of the Board of Elections and Common Cause to run to the defense of a purposely broken voter registration system,” said the Center’s CEO, Mike Stenhouse. “Attacks on the messenger are usually designed to deflect attention from the truth of the core issue.”

Rhode Islanders need a credible alternative to the status quo and its destructive progressive ideas. You can help.

Inadequate … in that the Governor, who refused to fulfill her campaign promise to appoint an independent investigation into the 38 Studios debacle, has not responded to Center’s call for such an investigation after clear evidence was presented that our state’s voter registration process may violate federal law, potentially opening the door to illegitimate votes being cast.

Further, the Secretary of State similarly has yet to issue a clear and unequivocal statement declaring whether or not Rhode Island’s current voter registration practices are in compliance with federal law, as the Center also demanded.

Bizarre … in that the statement from the Democrat Party directly contradicts the statement from the Secretary of State; and also improperly attacks the messenger by falsely claiming that Block’s research, that has brought these voter registration problems to light, is an assault on voting rights.

Similarly odd is that the good-government group, Common Cause RI, departed so wildly from its normally measured, policy-oriented approach. Instead, it launched a highly personal and unsubstantiated attack on Block, by claiming his research insinuated that fraudulent votes have been cast. Block did not make such a claim.

Perhaps most bizarre was the unhinged reaction from a sitting Commissioner of the Board of Elections, Steve Erickson, who on social media and on radio all but admitted voter registration problems. Erickson also seemed to advocate that the potential illegalities be swept under the rug, with problems instead addressed in a non public manner, behind the scenes. He also accused Block and the Center of engaging in in partisan politics.

“This is not a partisan issue, Steve, this is an American democracy issue,” replied Stenhouse from his Twitter account.

The Center’s full statement yesterday highlighted bi-partisan support for its call for an independent investigation and put forth additional recommended action items.

Earlier this week, Stenhouse, as guest-host for the award winning public affairs television program, State of the State, interviewed Ken Block about his research and the surprisingly dismissive reaction from the Secretary Of State. The 30-minute interview can be watched here.

The RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity is the Ocean State’s leading voice against the wreckage caused by our state’s progressive agenda.

As the state’s leading research organization, advancing family and business friendly values… the mission of our Center is to make Rhode Island a better place to call home – to raise a family and to build a career.

While progressives value government-centric, taxpayer-funded dependency… our Center believes in the value of hard work and the free-enterprise system.

We understand that in order for more Rhode Island families to have a better quality of life, that more and better businesses are needed to create more and better jobs.

Your donation will help us fight the union-progressive movement and, instead, advocate for pro-family, pro-business policies and values.

Please make a generous, tax-deductible gift to support our Center today!