Education and gambling: only in RI

Education and gambling: only in RI


...We are facing down Chafee’s nomination of George Caruolo (former House Majority Leader and legendary for the Caruolo Act) as the head of RI Board of Regents, a nomination welcomed by the teacher unions. Caruolo recently claimed on Newsmakers 2/5: George Caruolo WPRI.com that it “took a lot to enter the public arena" and that he was "comfortable being out of the public eye” since his days in the General Assembly. Caruolo would have the public believe that he retired from politics around 1998.

Not so fast! Here comes the “only in RI” moment. Caruolo is a paid lobbyist for Twin River Casino - the New England Gambling group intent on expanding slots to live table games.

No matter your opinion on gambling, do think about your opinion on whether or not there is a natural fit for one person to wear two hats: chief of education policy while paid to gain legislative support for expanded gambling in RI. (Sort of makes me think about an owner of a strip club who sends his daughter to finishing school- oddly contradictory notions).

The obvious and significant conflict of interest is that Caruolo is paid by Twin River Casino to get results. Results are delivered when trade-offs are made. What educational trade-offs will be made to garner support for expanding gambling in RI? How will those deals be struck?

And, as in the “only in RI” scenario, just wait for the other organizations that the NEA-RI control (behind the scenes) to begin dangling (union) campaign support for expanded gambling in exchange for stopping Commissioner Gist’s education reform measures in its’ tracks.


Quite the puzzle, isn’t it? If it were a puzzle then you would see retail packaging labeled as appropriate for ages 12 years old and up; as in, not too difficult to figure out!

If you agree that this is a major conflict of interest then call Governor Chafee at (401) 222-2080.