PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- Is Gov. Dan McKee's administration violating state law by having Stefan Pryor serve as commerce secretary without a confirmation vote?

The Rhode Island Senate thinks so, and so does Common Cause Rhode Island. But the governor's office is dismissing their objections.

McKee announced earlier this month he had asked Pryor to return to his old role as commerce secretary, a position Pryor previously held under both McKee and Gov. Gina Raimondo. He replaced Liz Tanner, who left to lead a nonprofit helping with local preparations for next year's World Cup.

Pryor's annual salary is $238,597, and the governor's office confirmed that his first day back on the job was Aug. 14 -- even though the Senate was out of session when McKee made the appointment and thus never vote

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