PROVIDENCE -- The state Supreme Court is refusing to hear an appeal over the Rhode Island Republican Party's illegal use of "soft money" for television ads during the campaign that vaulted Governor Carcieri into office.
In October, the state Board of Elections ruled that the state GOP had violated campaign-finance laws by tapping a $250,000 contribution from the national GOP to run television spots boosting Carcieri, a Republican who went on to win the November election against Democrat Myrth York.
The GOP appealed, but the Supreme Court rejected the request in a one-sentence order June 18. State Democratic Party Chairman William J. Lynch hailed the court's decision yesterday, calling for the Board of Elections to issue stiff penalties.
"My concern now is that there must be some teeth in the ruling," Lynch said. "If the Republican Party and the Carcieri campaign are not penalized significantly, what is to stop these flagrant violations from occurring in the next election cycle?"
Lynch also sought to place the onus on Carcieri, saying, "Here's a governor who ran on doing things differently and ethical reform and open government, and he was the immediate, direct beneficiary of illegal campaign money. So he clearly has to take some kind of responsibility and address this issue."
Carcieri spokesman Jeff Neal said, "Governor Carcieri thinks this is a Republican Party matter and it can be addressed by officials in the party." State Republican Party Chairwoman Patricia L. Morgan could not be reached yesterday, and other party officials could not be reached or declined to comment.
Lynch noted that earlier this year, the Federal Election Commission fined the Rhode Island Republican Party $3,500 for failing to file financial disclosure reports on time. "Now is the time for the governor to demonstrate some leadership and clean up this mess," he said.
Lynch filed a complaint after Republicans began running a 30-second spot that declared Carcieri's opposition to then-House Speaker John B. Harwood, D-Pawtucket, and talked about Carcieri campaign themes such as cleaning up corruption. Lynch claimed the GOP used at least $150,000 of the national party's money.
Republicans removed the ad after the Board of Elections issued its unanimous ruling, but Lynch said the damage was done. "It probably didn't decide the election," he said, "but the Carcieri campaign was getting tight in money, and a couple hundred-thousand dollars on TV down the stretch makes a difference."
