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« Update: Jury selection begins in trial of ex-CVS execs | Today | Photo: Height runs in the family » May 5, 2008Update: Carcieri vetoes 24-hour gambling legislationPROVIDENCE -- Governor Carcieri has vetoed legislation that would allow 24-hour gambling on weekends and holidays at the state’s two video-slot emporiums in Lincoln and Newport. In the veto message he issued late this afternoon, Carcieri repeated his reservations about the state forcing expanded gambling on communities that don’t want it. The Newport City Council unanimously passed a resolution objecting to round-the-clock-gambling; Lincoln voters overwhelmingly rejected the concept during a non-binding referendum last fall. “As I have said repeatedly since debate over this legislation started last year, the host communities should have some say when it comes to deciding the hours of operation for these two facilities. Twin River and Newport Grand are very large entities, attracting thousands of people on a daily basis, and whle the state generates significant revenue from their operation, Lincoln and Newport and forced to bear the burdens of having such facilities in their communities.’’ “It is generally the prerogative of cities and towns to set the hours of operations for restaurants, bars grocery and convenient stores and other businesses,’’ Carcieri said. ‘Under the scheme passed by the General Assembly, the people of Lincoln and Newport are at the mercy of large-scale gambling facilities, with no recourse.’’ If support holds for the legislation introduced in the House by Rep. William San Bento, D-Pawtucket, the House and Senate will be able to easily muster the three-fifths vote required to override the governor’s veto. Not long after the governor issued his message, General Assembly leaders weighed in with one of their own. Saying they are "disappointed and confused" by the governor's decision, House Speaker William J. Murphy and House Majority Leader Gordon D. Fox said, “Given the state’s fiscal crisis and the fact that we must maximize the revenue from our existing facilities, we will strongly consider overriding the governor’s veto in the coming days.” -- Katherine Gregg of the Journal State House Bureau, with projo.com reports Carcieri has presided over a massive expansion of video gambling activity at Twin River and Newport Grand, including the addition earlier this year of virtual Blackjack, without local or statewide voter approval. "But he drew a line at this proposal, which Twin River sought, and lawmakers are counting on to raise at least $14.1 million in additional revenue annually for the state. He served notice last week that he would “most likely” veto the legislation because the two communities had objected and because he has “serious reservations and concerns” about the “inflated” revenue projections. Murphy and Fox said in their message today, "While we appreciate the importance of local input, we don’t believe it can be the deciding factor when state interests are at stake. We believe that such parochial thinking has hampered the state’s economic development opportunities in the past." Posted by Mike McKinney CommentsAnthony Vela | May 5, 2008 7:40 PM link WHAT A CROCK OF HYPOCRISY!!!! Governor Don Don NEVER cared what the people of EITHER community thought before on the CASINO, um, I mean, Slot Parlor issue, matter of fact Don Don never cared what the people of ANY community thought about the CASINO, um, I mean, Slot Parlor issue other than to do whatever he could to to sway their vote against a REAL CASINO (Like what we have isn't a CASINO). The only reason he vetoed this 24hr bill was because he didn't like the fact that the City of Lincoln and the City of Newport were going to get extra revenue, and that would take away from the money that Don Don would get from the slot take. JP | May 5, 2008 10:39 PM link It's time that this corrupt one sided general Tom Breggia | May 5, 2008 11:16 PM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006
24 hour gambling? I doubt it. Twin River will turn into a haven for the homeless. What about the employees? They are not even being offered an incentive to work the overnight hours. Non union employees suffered the most. No more time and a half pay on Sundays and no extra pay for the time diffential. These hard working people suffer the most.