Crowley on Newsmakers; Twin River compromise?

Also joining us for today's taping was Pat Crowley, Bob Walsh's right-hand man at the National Education Association Rhode Island, and a peripatetic union-media figure in the Ocean State.

Taking issue with statements made by Governor Carcieri during his recent Newsmakers' appearance, Crowley asserts that rejiggering the state's tax structure is a needed fix for improving the budget. Suggestions that the wealthy are leaving the state are mistaken, Crowley says, and he says they should foot a larger part of the bill.

In talking with Crowley off-set, the activist, chairman of the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee a leader of the Lincoln Town Council, told me about elements of a possible compromise for extending hours at Twin River, thereby possibly increasing state revenue from the facility:

1. Twin River would be allowed to open 24 hours on Friday and Saturday, and any Sunday before a Monday holiday;

2. Twin River would be allowed to stay open until 3AM during on weekdays;

3. The Town of Lincoln would receive 4 percent of the revenue from all gambling machines during the expanded hours (2AM-9AM on weekends, 2AM-3AM on weekdays);

 

4. These changes should be enacted legislatively and not by executive order, given the people the right to have their interests protected by law.

In related news, Dan Kennedy today reports a setback for proponents of casino in Middleborough, Massachusetts.