House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello’s plan for revising the awarding legislative community service grants will emerge in about a week. Mattiello acknowledges the grants have become a political mess.
The resignation earlier this month of House Finance Chairman Ray Gallsion sparked scrutiny of the community service grants. The state is giving out $11 million in the grants to nonprofit groups this year.
Recent hearings on the grants attracted attention when only one lawmaker attended one of the mid-day meetings. Speaker Mattiello said other state reps had commitments, including being unable to get away from their jobs.
The grants face scrutiny in part since former Finance chairman Gallison received pay through one of the longtime recipients. A spokesman said Mattiello plans to offer a thorough overall of the grant process in about a week.