"Former Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci declared the other day that Sal DiMasi is the greatest speaker of the House in Rhode Island history.

The problem is DiMasi is the Massachusetts Speaker of the House.

But the way Cianci sees it, DiMasi did the Ocean State a huge favor last week when he killed a bill to legalize casino gambling in Massachusetts, thus the honorary title of the greatest speaker in Rhode Island history.

Massachusetts residents spend $200 million a year over the border at the Twin River gambling facility in Lincoln, R.I., Cianci said.

That is money that would stay at home and create jobs and taxes for Massachusetts instead of Rhode Island, if not for DiMasi.

Cianci is far from the only Rhode Island politician who appreciates the gold mine the Ocean State enjoys at the expense of Massachusetts."

Get the Story:
Jim Hand: A good bet for RI (The Attleboro Sun Chronicle 3/29)