In fact, New Jersey gives Rhode Island a fair run for its money in the political corruption stakes, seriously threatening our bragging rights. Consider that acting Gov. Donald T. DiFranco's first two months in office have been dominated by questions about his finances and past business practices. His choice for state treasurer, Isabel Miranda, resigned after five days over questions of conflicts of interest. And a former attorney general, Peter G. Verniero, who is now a state Supreme Court justice, is under investigation for possibly covering up racial profiling. Kind of puts Rhode Island to shame.
People often try to help their friends.
They don't view that as corrupt, but it can lead to illegal actions. Not only is the state small, but change comes slowly here. The Republican Party dominated state politics in the interests of the land owners and mill operators from before the Civil War. Then in 1935, in a coup known as the Bloodless Revolution, the Democratic Party wrested control in the name of the Catholic majority and has dominated state politics ever since. While the party machine may be a pale shadow of the type that existed in the early part of the last century, it still plays a role.