Governor McKee Submits Letter Regarding Office of Inspector General Proposal

Published on Thursday, May 21, 2026

PROVIDENCE, RI — Governor McKee issued the following letter regarding the Office of Inspector General proposal currently introduced in the Rhode Island General Assembly:

RE: H-8562 Relating to State Affairs and Government – Office of the Inspector General 

Chair Abney and Members of the House Committee on Finance, 

I support the concept of an independent inspector general to streamline efforts to investigate fraud, waste, and abuse and provide further transparency into how taxpayer dollars are managed. H-8562 makes progress toward that goal, but it requires amendments to ensure the inspector general has visibility into government operations across all branches, including actions related to public finances undertaken by the General Assembly. 

As currently drafted, the legislation expressly excludes the legislative branch from the definition of “agency” and limits the inspector general’s jurisdiction solely to the executive branch. Excluding the branch of government that controls the power of the purse would leave a significant gap in the inspector general’s oversight authority and would not serve the best interests of Rhode Island taxpayers. 

Other states, including Massachusetts and Delaware, have successfully established inspector general frameworks that provide oversight of legislative, administrative, and financial operations while respecting separation of powers principles. Rhode Island can adopt a similar approach that provides meaningful oversight across all branches of government without interfering with core legislative functions. 

More broadly, Rhode Island should continue pursuing structural reforms that improve fiscal oversight and transparency, including advancing my budget proposal to allow voters to decide whether to adopt a line-item veto constitutional amendment. Governors in 44 other states have some form of line-item veto authority, allowing them to reject unnecessary taxes and fees and increasing transparency in the budgeting process. 

A line-item veto would help ensure affordability remains front and center in state government decisions. Rhode Island’s current all-or-nothing system limits the ability to address individual provisions that unnecessarily raise costs for taxpayers. Allowing voters to decide this question would create a more balanced and accountable fiscal process focused on protecting Rhode Islanders from unnecessary cost increases over time. Rhode Islanders deserve the opportunity to vote on this question this November. 

I stand ready to work with the General Assembly to advance these good-government reforms and give taxpayers a stronger voice through an independent inspector general and line-item veto. 

Sincerely,  

Daniel J. McKee 

Governor