PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- In a letter to independent candidate for governor Lincoln Chafee, Governor Carcieri denied Chafee's request to speak at a Monday meeting of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation in opposition to a $75-million loan guarantee to retired Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling's video game company.

Chafee's spokesman replied with a statement decrying the governor's "arrogance of power and incumbency," and said that the former senator would attend the meeting anyway.

Chafee made the request to EDC director Keith Stokes a day after holding a press conference to highlight his opposition to the deal with Schilling's company, 38 Studios LLC.

In a letter he sent Stokes, former Republican Chafee asked to address the EDC's board of directors, chaired by Republican Governor Carcieri, at what he expects will be its next regularly scheduled meeting Monday.

"I am deeply troubled by the EDC's plans to enter into a transaction with 38 Studios," he wrote. "I wish to speak at Monday's meeting to again ask for a request-for-proposal (RFP) process that will ensure Rhode Island gets the best possible return on its investment ... in terms of both job creation and business growth."

If elected, Chafee said earlier, there would be "no more deals" for businesses like the one the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation made with Schilling's company, 38 Studios LLC.

In his response to Chafee, Carcieri said Chafee had already met with EDC executive director Keith Stokes and members of his staff on two occasions. "It is inappropriate for the EDC to become engaged in this political campaign," Carcieri wrote. "Your concerns have been fully communicated."

Michael Trainor, Chafee's spokesman, issued a statement in reply that reads in part:

"This reflects an arrogance of power and incumbency that will not stand the test of legitimate citizen concern .... concern over gambling $75 million of taxpayer money.

"Senator Chafee is disappointed that Governor Carcieri has chosen to be so dismissive of the widespread concern that the 38 Studios deal has engendered. He, like many other Rhode Islanders, is wondering why this one deal is being rammed through in the waning days of an administration. ...

"Senator Chafee still plans on going to the Monday meeting of the RIEDC Board in the hope that he will be allowed to speak the meeting as a citizen and taxpayer."

The original version of this story was posted at 1:28 p.m. It was updated at 4:55 p.m.