Projo Politics Blog

Don’t hold your breath waiting for hearings to begin anytime soon on 24-hour gambling at the two Rhode Island slot parlors: Twin River (the former Lincoln Park) and Newport Grand.

State Sen. Paul Moura, D-East Providence, tried to get the proverbial ball rolling.

A field representative for the New England Laborers Health and Safety who sees 24-hour gambling as a way to raise additional state money, Moura proposed joint House-Senate Finance Committee hearings in letters late last month to legislative leaders, including House Speaker William J. Murphy.

“With the prospect of gambling expansion and various casino proposals in neighboring Massachusetts, it is imperative that we at least explore the possibility of maximizing our revenue-enhancing potential by allowing gambling facilities to remain open 24 hours a day,” he wrote.

But Murphy isn’t biting.

Initially unavailable for comment, Murphy issued this statement last week through his spokesman Larry Berman: “Speaker Murphy said this is an issue that the House will consider in January. The House Finance Committee will hold hearings in the next session.”

Senate leaders were of the same mind, with Senate President Joseph Montalbano saying that “it is the prerogative of the chairmen of the Senate and House Finance Committees whether to hold hearings on these issues in the legislature’s off-season,” and his finance chairman, Stephen D. Alves, D-West Warwick, saying through a spokesman — not until the session resumes in January.

--By Kathy Gregg, Edward Fitzpatrick, Steve Peoples and Elizabeth Gudrais

Journal staff writers

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