Photo | Dee DeQuattro

Posted: 5/22/2012 6:01:10 PM
Updated: 5/23/2012 8:25:23 AM

Governor Chafee made his first live appearance on the Buddy Cianci Show on Tuesday afternoon.

Chafee spoke with Cianci extensively about the 38 Studios situation. He told Cianci that the 38 Studios deal can be defined by only one word, “insanity.” Accordin g to the governor 38 Studios has done a lot of "stonewalling" to block the EDC and Rhode Island officials from getting information from the company. Chafee said that despiteall the "stone walls" the state is maneuvering past them.

Chafee said the state is doing everything possible to make 38 Studios successful. He said he does not want to let the company access film tax credits until it is clear that the credits will make the company profitable. “I want to know with absolute certainty and finality that we are going to get somewhere that is profitable before another penny goes in,” said Chafee. Chafee said the first game released by 38 Studios, “Kingdoms of Amular: Reckoning” was not successful and “did not perform.” Chafee said that if the game had been successful the company would have attracted private investors.

Chafee said the state is remaining focused on making the company viable however the state “was very successful at heading off any effort” for the company to get access to the film credits.

The Governor was also concerned with keeping Rhode Island’s cities and towns afloat. Chafee told Cianci about his municipal pension relief package. He said that the state needs to extend the power to suspend the Cost of Living Adjustments for retirees to cities and towns.

Chafee took a shot at General Treasurer Gina Raimondo saying that his municipal pension reform should have been included in the state pension overhaul that she spearheaded at the end of last year. “How could an intelligent person not understand the magnitude of the problem?” questioned Chafee. “Being such an intelligent person, I never understood that being so intelligent she never grasped the magnitude of the problem in the cities and towns and I always thought it was disingenuous to say we haven’t studied enough we have stacks and stacks of studies on  this issue,” said Chafee. Chafee said he would appreciate her support on getting the new municipal pension package passed.

In case there are any questions the independent governor of Rhode Island to Cianci that he does indeed plan to run for governor again. He confirmed that he is raising money but said he is unsure if he will remain independent or affiliate with a party. “I like being an independent but there are difficulties which I found out during the campaign,” said Chafee.  Chafee said that specifically with party support candidates are able to access more money.

Chafee told Cianci that he plans to support Congressman David Cicilline in his bid for re-election. “The only thing I regret that Mayor Cicilline didn’t do is point out what happened to him under the cuts in state aid,” said Chafee. Chafee said Providence’s fiscals struggles were not at fault of Cicilline but rather a fault of the cuts in state aid to municipalities proposed by Governor Carcieri.“No mayor could ever sustain those cuts,” said Chafee.