[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,1_2,1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\n Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n Campaign finance reports can be found on the State of Rhode Island\u00a0<\/span>Campaign Finance Electronic Reporting & Tracking System, which is located\u00a0here<\/a>. For a discussion of how to interpret campaign finance disclosure data in the context of Rhode Island’s constitutional convention referendum, see here<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n I’d suggest thinking of the reported contribution data as 1) proximate source reporting for contributions that 2) primarily fund paid advertising expenditures, where the direct audience for the advertising is non-members. Excluded from this data are multiple categories of information, including:<\/span><\/p>\n Internal \u201cad\u201d expenditures.<\/strong> For example, the \u201cno\u201d coalition unions have tens of thousands of members in Rhode Island. Any expenditures for communications to members (or that its members redistribute to the general public), including newsletters, social media, yard signs, and brochures, are exempt from the campaign finance disclosure law. In contrast, if the smaller Rhode Island ACLU, another \u201cno\u201d coalition member, wanted to influence a similar number of people via ads, that would be a disclosable event because the communication would be with non-members. Also not included are other internal expenditures such as holding press conferences for coalition members on one’s own premises or at a public venue; conducting polls, focus groups, and research within a coalition member’s organization; and traveling around the state to speak to and mobilize allies. The consequence of these exclusions is that large organizations and organizations with many members need to disclose less campaign finance information than small organizations and individuals. It is unclear whether the internal expenditures of the national unions that provide funds, internal staff resources, and expertise to their state affiliates to oppose convention referendums are covered by Rhode Island’s campaign finance disclosure laws.<\/span><\/p>\n True-source contributions.<\/strong> For example, every year the AFL-CIO and AFT contribute unrestricted funds to the Rhode Island ACLU. But such unrestricted funds need not be reported. So is the true source of the ACLU\u2019s contributions the ACLU or its coalition partners? As far as the law is concerned, it is the ACLU, the proximate source of the funds. The ACLU extensively litigated over related issues after the constitutional convention referendum in 2004. Similarly, when one political action committee funds another one that then funds another one, the true source of the funds is obscured.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Rhode Island Board of Elections website was not designed to be user-friendly and the data below were laboriously compiled. If the data include any errors, please let me know via the contact form on the “Contact” menu item.\u00a0 –J.H. Snider<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n As of Oct. 30, 2024, only the \u201cno\u201d coalition had reported any contributions. No \u201cyes\u201d coalition had formed. As of Oct. 31, 2024, an individual “yes” contribution–but not a coalition–was reported.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Total reported contributions as of Nov. 4, 2024: $190,150.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Nov. 4, 2024.<\/a><\/p>\n RI Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, $20,000, Oct. 29, 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n AFSCME, $5,000, out-of-state, Oct. 31, 2024.<\/p>\n IAFF Firepac $2,500, out-of-state, Nov. 4, 2024.<\/p>\n International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), $5,000, out-of-state,\u00a0Nov. 4, 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n Subtotal: $32,500<\/strong><\/p>\n Oct. 28, 2024 Filing<\/a>:<\/p>\n United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 328, $10,000, Oct. 23, 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n Pawtucket Teachers’ Alliance COPE 174, $1,000, Oct. 29, 2024<\/a>.82<\/p>\n RISAFF PAC, $250, Oct. 28, 2024.<\/p>\n Subtotal: $11,250<\/strong><\/p>\n Rhode Island Building and Construction Council, $1,000, Oct. 24, 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n ACLU, $2,915.70, Oct. 21, 2024<\/a>. (rounded up to $3,000 for purposes of calculating totals)<\/p>\n Oct. 23, 2024 Filing<\/a>:<\/p>\n Build New England, $10,000, Oct. 17, 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n Warwick Teachers Union, $200, Oct. 17, 2024.<\/p>\n ACLU, $8,000, Oct. 18, 2024.<\/p>\n Coventry Teachers Alliance Local 1075, $1,000, Oct. 18, 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n RISAFF PAC, $2,500, Oct. 18, 2024.<\/p>\n Cranston Teachers Alliance PAC, $1,000, Oct. 21, 2024. (I have treated this the same as their Oct. 28 contribution<\/a> but may be wrong.)<\/p>\n Subtotal: $22,700.<\/strong><\/p>\n Oct. 16, 2024 Filing<\/a>:<\/p>\n Rhode Island Professional Fire Fighters,\u00a0 $2,500.<\/p>\n Oct. 16, 2024 Filing<\/a>:<\/p>\n Rhode Island ACLU, $8,000 (as a covered transfer on Oct. 24, 2024<\/a>).<\/p>\n [J.H. Snider note: The close to $300,000 reported contributions from the American Civil Liberties Union to its Rhode Island chapter makes it difficult or arguably impossible to assess how much of the Rhode Island chapter\u2019s contributions to the \u201cno\u201d coalition should be attributed to \u201cout-of-state\u201d money.<\/p>\n Oct. 16, 2024 Filing:<\/a><\/p>\n Providence Central Federated Council, $1,000, contributed on Oct. 15, 2024.<\/p>\n IUOE Local 57, $1,000, contributed on Oct. 15, 2024.<\/p>\n AFT Local, $400, contributed on Oct. 15, 2024.<\/p>\n West Warwick Teachers\u2019 Alliance, $1,000, contributed on Oct. 15, 2024 (filed on Oct. 28<\/a> for a Sept. 25 contribution).<\/p>\n Subtotal: $3,400 (J.H. Snider note: some of the disclosures on the linked to form were already disclosed elsewhere so have not been repeated here.)<\/p>\n Oct. 11, 2024 Filing<\/a>:<\/p>\n Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island, $10,000. (Amended Oct. 15, 2024<\/a>.)<\/p>\n [J.H. Snider note: In its filing, Planned Parenthood appears to include the following partial funding source for this disbursement to the \u201cno\u201d campaign: $8,000 of its fund appears to have been contributed by\u00a0<\/span>District 1199 Leadership in Elections, Advocacy & Direction Fund<\/a>, which\u00a0<\/span>represents<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>about 25,000 members nationwide. $4,999 was contributed by\u00a0<\/span>Charles C. Townsend<\/a>, who has sought hundreds of millions of dollars\u2019 worth of spectrum rights from the federal government as President of Aloha Wireless and General Partner of Bluewater Wireless.]<\/p>\n Oct. 9, 2024 Filing:<\/a><\/p>\n District 1199 SEIU Political Action Committee, $10,000.<\/p>\n Oct. 8, 2024 Filing:<\/a><\/p>\n National Education Association, $15,000. (Amended on Oct. 9<\/a>)<\/p>\n O<\/a>ct. 4, 2024 Filing<\/a>:<\/p>\n Teamsters, $10,000. (see also Sept. 27 Expenditure Report<\/a>).<\/p>\n RI Building and Construction Trades, $1,000<\/p>\n Subtotal: $11,000<\/p>\n Sept. 26, 2024 Filing<\/a>:<\/p>\n Subtotal: $55,000<\/span><\/p>\n July 26, 2024 Filing:<\/a><\/p>\n RI AFL-CIO, $5,000, July 23, 2024. (The seed contributor.)<\/p>\n Subtotal: $5,000<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Expenditure Categories for RI Citizens for Responsible Government<\/strong><\/p>\n Radio ad production<\/p>\n Radio ad placement<\/p>\n Streaming ad placement<\/p>\n Graphic design services<\/p>\n Printing and mailhouse services<\/p>\n USPS postage<\/p>\n Video production<\/p>\n Media placement<\/p>\n Printing and mailing<\/p>\n P.O. Box purchase<\/p>\n Text message campaign<\/p>\n Campaign organization and outreach services<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Citizens for Responsible Government<\/strong><\/p>\n NEA, $10,000,\u00a0<\/span>11\/3\/2014<\/a><\/p>\n Woonsocket Teachers Guild, $1,000,\u00a0<\/span>11\/3\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n International Brotherhood of Teamsters, $5,000,\u00a0<\/span>11\/3\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n RITHP Solidarity Fund, $5,000,\u00a0<\/span>10\/27\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n RI ACLU, $5,000,\u00a0<\/span>10\/27\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n NEA PAC for Education, $10,000,\u00a0<\/span>10\/20\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n New England Laborers Management Trust, $10,000,\u00a0<\/span>10\/15\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n RI Brotherhood of Correctional Officers, $2,500,\u00a0<\/span>10\/15\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n RI Brotherhood of Police Officers, $2,500,\u00a0<\/span>10\/15\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n Teamsters Local 251, $5,000,\u00a0<\/span>10\/6\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n RI AFL-CIO, $10,000,\u00a0<\/span>10\/2\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n RI AFL-CIO Cope, $5,000,\u00a0<\/span>10\/2\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cranston Teachers\u2019 Alliance, $1,000,\u00a0<\/span>10\/1\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n West Warwick Teachers\u2019 Alliance, $1,000,\u00a0<\/span>10\/1\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n Iron Workers Local 37, $2000,\u00a0<\/span>10\/1\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n SEIU RI State Council, $300,\u00a0<\/span>8\/12\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n RI Hospital UNAP, $2500,\u00a0<\/span>8\/12\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n UNAP, $3,000,\u00a0<\/span>8\/12\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n SEIU Local 32BJ, $2,000,\u00a0<\/span>8\/11\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n Rhode Island Association for Justice, $10,000,\u00a0<\/span>8\/8\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n District 1199 SEIU, $4,000,\u00a0<\/span>5\/22\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n United Food and Commercial Workers defense fund, $5,000,\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>5\/22\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n AFSCME AFL-CIO, $10,000,\u00a0<\/span>5\/16\/2014<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>(note: name misspelled ALF-CIO).<\/p>\n United Nurses and Allied Professionals, $10,000,\u00a0<\/span>5\/7\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n RIFTHP Solidarity Fund, $10,000,\u00a0<\/span>5\/1\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n RI ACLU, $10,000,\u00a0<\/span>5\/1\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, $10,000,\u00a0<\/span>4\/3\/2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n Total $151,800<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|on” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” disabled=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Citizens for Representative Government,<\/strong><\/p>\n Oppose Question #2: Constitutional Convention<\/strong><\/p>\n RIFTHP, $7,500, 10\/28\/2004<\/a>.<\/p>\n NEA RI (?), $7,500, 10\/28\/2004<\/a>.<\/p>\n ACLU RI, $2,500, 10\/28\/2004<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ocean State XYZ, $1,500, 10\/28\/2004?<\/a>.<\/p>\n AFl-CIO, $4,000, 10\/28\/2004?<\/a>.<\/p>\n Working RI, $3,000, 10\/28\/2004?<\/a>.<\/p>\n Total $26,000.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Other<\/strong><\/p>\n Common Cause RI, $288.50 + $95.62 +$294.00, 10\/25\/2004<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Support Questions 1: Separation of Powers & 2: Constitutional Convention<\/strong><\/p>\n Operation Clean Government, $362.38, 11\/3\/2004<\/a>.<\/p>\n Operation Clean Government, $5002.00 +$925.60 + $28.63 + 1008.89 + $7557.72 + $186.45, 10\/20\/2014 to 11\/3\/2004<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/ul>\n
\u00a0“No” Coalition 2024<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
“No” Coalition 2014<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Campaign Contributions 2004<\/strong><\/h3>\n