PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The chasm between Republican Governor Carcieri and House Republican Leader Robert Watson flared to the forefront again last week when Watson voted against an insurance bill, carrying his name, that he had introduced for the administration.

Most of his fellow House Republicans followed his lead.

Asked later what that was all about, Watson, who represents East Greenwich, said he put the bill in on behalf of the governor because that is "the process by which the administration gets bill introduced,'' but voted against it because "I am not a fan of hyper-regulation.''

Agreeing, freshman Republican Brian Newberry said the bill drafted by the Department of Business Regulation had many defects, including a requirement that every insurance contract say: "if you commit fraud, you might be prosecuted.'' Said Newberry, who represents North Smithfield, "We shouldn't be voting on things that don't accomplish anything.''

Watson has been publicly at odds with Carcieri since the governor pushed a $1 per pack cigarette tax hike earlier this session, over House GOP objections. And when Watson first stood in the House last week to talk about the insurance bill, he said he was "loath to'' defend an administration bill. He later said he was kidding.

In a wide-ranging interview, Watson also renewed his concerns about Carcieri's current chief of staff Brian Stern seeking a judgeship in light of the state's revolving door law.

The law was aimed at preventing lawmakers and other top-tier state officials from using their inside influence to land judgeships, but it also contains an exemption for people with at least five years of "uninterrupted state service." Stern sought and won an advisory opinion from the state Ethics Commission that he qualifies based on the eight-plus years he worked elsewhere in state government, prior to his March 2007 appointment as chief of staff.

Stern has made the list of finalists, Carcieri is weighing candidates for two openings: chief judge of the District Court and the Superior Court seat vacated by the retirement of Judge Mark A. Pfeiffer.

Despite what the Ethics Commission said, Watson said, he believes the elevation of a "sitting governor's chief of staff from that position right to the bench...is a violation of the spirit of the revolving door legislation.''

''The governor is free to choose who he likes,'' said Watson. But "you know, the public doesn't elect Republicans to raise taxes or score jobs for their friends.''

Offered a chance to respond, Carcieri spokeswoman Amy Kempe said Watson "and all our elected officials, are free to have their opinions and vote in the best interest of their constituents.''