11:41 AM EDT on Wednesday, June 23, 2004

June 22, 2004

CARCIERI STATEMENT ON NEW CASINO DEAL

Governor Donald L. Carcieri today issued the following statement regarding the new casino deal that was unveiled early this evening.

"I have repeatedly made my opposition to a casino perfectly clear. The new deal that Harrah's has reportedly struck with the General Assembly does nothing to change my position on this important issue."

"I continue to believe that a casino will undercut state revenues, will destroy nearby businesses, will increase the potential for public corruption, and will impose inevitable societal costs on our state."

"But I also believe that the casino question is about more than just dollars and cents. It's about the heart and soul of Rhode Island, and the future direction of our small state."

"The most important question in this debate is whether we want Rhode Island to become ever more beholden to out-of-state gambling interests. In other words, is it wise to place the future of our state in the hands of an out-of-state gambling company that has no vested interest in protecting the Rhode Island we know and cherish? My answer to that question is an emphatic 'no'."

"I am also disappointed that this new deal for Harrah's was devised behind closed doors, and that the General Assembly plans to act on it before the public has had an opportunity to learn the details. A decision as momentous as this should not be cobbled together at the 11th hour, with no opportunity for the public comment."