PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The Rhode Island Ethics Commission says a state senator who also works as a consultant for a union can head up the Senate Labor Committee.
The commission gave the answer to Democratic Sen. Frank Ciccone on Tuesday, who had requested an advisory opinion on if he was on ethical ground by accepting the new role in state Senate leadership. The Providence Journal reports Ciccone had wanted to know if he was prohibited by the Code of Ethics from chairing the labor committee while also consulting for the Rhode Island Judicial, Professional and Technical Employees Local Union 808.
The ethics panel did caution against public officials using public office for financial gain, and told Ciccone to recuse himself if lobbyists for his union appear before the committee.
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