Politics & Government

Sheehan Calls For RI Inspector General

Should Rhode Island have an inspector general?

Information in the following article was provided by a press release from the Rhode Island General Assembly.

Following an independent report that reportedly found waste in Rhode Island's Medicaid program, State Sen. James Sheehan (D – North Kingstown, Narragansett) is calling for Rhode Island to get its own inspector general.

According to Sheehan, states like Louisiana and New York have dedicated inspector generals tasked with preventing and detecting waste, mismanagement, abuse, fraud and corruption in state government. 

Find out what's happening in North Kingstownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"We need to make sure that the state is spending taxpayer money wisely and appropriately and we should not be dependent on private, outside reports to find out if there are problems," said Sheehan.

Senator Sheehan has introduced legislation, 2013-S 0612, that would establish an Office of Inspector General as an independent administrative agency, with the purpose of preventing and detecting fraud, waste, abuse or mismanagement in the expenditure of public funds.

Find out what's happening in North Kingstownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“I did not propose this legislation because I am assuming fraud or mismanagement in Rhode Island government,” said Sheehan. “Then again, I am not assuming that there are no problems. What I hope to accomplish through enactment of this bill and establishment of this office is that the expenditure of public funds is conducted in an open, aboveboard and fully transparent fashion. Our residents have a right to know how their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent and, further, to know that someone is watching to make sure there is no abuse or fraud.”

 

Should Rhode Island have its own inspector general?

 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here