Projo Politics Blog

Worried about a possible conflict of interest, Rep. Joseph A. Trillo sounded the alarm to the state Ethics Commission late last month about, um, alarms.

In an April 28 letter to the commission, the Warwick Republican questioned whether it’s appropriate for him to vote on legislation he sponsored that would require insurers to provide discounts or credits to businesses that install proper fire suppression and prevention equipment.

Trillo sells burglar alarms and certain fire alarm equipment for a living and wondered if that was a conflict. (He emphasized his belief that his company does not stand to benefit from the legislation because the credits would go the businesses, not the companies selling the systems).

He added that the bill wasn’t his idea; he submitted it on behalf of the state Department of Administration.

A preliminary response from the Ethnics Commission indicated that Trillo should not be prohibited from voting on the legislation because it did not appear to have a special financial impact on his company.

The full commission is not expected to weigh in until tomorrow, but it’s a moot point. Trillo voted in favor of the bill, which passed the House earlier this month.

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