Rhode Island’s politics is a frequent spectacle of politicians spending a significant amount of time away from their official duties, a trend prominently seen in Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos. Matos’s excursions were primarily centered on playing cheerleader for the presidential campaigns of Joe Biden and later Kamala Harris. Many would argue we should question these dedications of time, effort, and resources for out-of-state matters.
Gov. Dan McKee, for instance, spent 55 days journeying out of state, which may appear less extravagant when compared with the whopping 90 days Gina Raimondo spent touring in 2017. The destinations for these trips were far flung and international, including locations like Portugal, Israel, Belgium, Canada, and Taiwan. How does a far-off gathering in a foreign land directly benefit the citizens of Rhode Island?
Interestingly, Taiwan and Portugal seem to be popular locales among Rhode Island’s politicians. Equally bustling were locations like Israel, San Juan, and unexpectedly, Deadwood. And why this gravitation towards these destinations? National events, presidential campaigns and fundraising dinners are quite evidently a lure that Rhode Island politicians find hard to resist.
Former Gov. Gina Raimondo had spent a staggering 90 days away from her duties. However, the award for the most wandering politico was won by Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos. Overpowering even General Treasurer James Diossa, Matos squandered 58 days out of state in one year, an indulgence that begs the question on accountability and commitment to public service. A considerable portion of her excursions were linked to events surrounding presidential elections in Philadelphia and Las Vegas.
Matos spared no corners of the country, making her presence known at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and at a sequence of White House events. The 23 trips she made incorporated not only political events, but also seemingly superfluous gatherings such as the touristic forays in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the National Supermarket Association gala in Atlantic City, and Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association event in Sacramento, California.
Former Lt. Gov. Dan Mckee also appeared to relish his travel experiences, with a trip to Taiwan generating a swift controversy. This muddled set of priorities unfortunately came at a cost to state taxpayers, who found themselves footing a bill of $6,586 for Matos’s combined travels.
James Diossa, who enjoyed a jaunt of 74 days out of Rhode Island in 2023, ironically dialed back on his travel schedule last year. Few would find comfort in Diossa’s claim of zero state spending on his trips and a lack of third-party contributions, considering the past excesses.
Mckee managed to surpass Diossa, having spent 55 days out of state on an extravagant 14 trips in just one year. Rhode Island taxpayers once again were burdened with the bill, now reaching a significant $12,949 for his tours.
Among the spending spree was Attorney General Peter Neronha with 45 days away, 16 of them for purported ‘business’. Somehow, that business included a visit to France’s Normandy region and conferences in Seattle and Deadwood, South Dakota. The extent to which these travels contributed directly to Rhode Island’s wellbeing remains unclear.
Secretary of State Gregg Amore was not far behind, accounting for 37 travel days last year on 15 trips. Baltimore saw Amore attending a conference and gracing the stage as a member of a discussion panel. Some can’t help but question if these seemingly tangential excursions are a productive use of Rhode Island’s public officials’ time and resources.
Perhaps an interesting revelation of Rhode Island’s political landscape is the developed relationships with specific foreign governments or economic development organizations. There’s a peculiar fondness for Portugal, always an evergreen destination for Rhode Island lawmakers. Four of these politicians were guests of a Portuguese economic development group- something curious within itself.
Despite escalating tensions and war in Gaza, Rhode Island politicians continue visits to Israel. Ticking off more international spots, other travels have included conferences in Brussels, Belgium, explorations in Greece, and ventures to Toronto. The state rep who holds the record for the most individual trips is Karen Alzate, with an impressive 16 last year, all within domestic boundaries.
Interestingly, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a self-proclaimed nonprofit organization that drafts model legislation, often sponsors such delegations, like the recent one to Taiwan. It is left for one to consider whether such delegations effectively serve the legislative interests of states or merely offer an opportunity for political grandstanding.
A particularly noteworthy traveler was the New Senate President Valarie Lawson, who journeyed all the way to Taiwan last year, even before she had become the majority leader. It’s almost as if the gravitational pull of foreign lands and alluring out-of-state events is simply too much to resist for Rhode Island’s political heads.