Politics & Government

Should Former Gov. Carcieri Apologize For 38 Studios Fiasco?

During his first interview about the video-game company since it closed, the former two-term governor takes responsibility for the original deal but says the state should have done more to save the company.

Former Gov. Donald Carcieri stopped short of apologizing for helping orchestrate the deal that gave 38 Studios a $75 million guaranteed loan to move to Rhode Island, but he did take some responsibility on Thursday in his first interview on the subject.

"I will take responsibility for approving the deal," Carcieri said in an interview Thursday with WPRI's Tim White.

The video game company owned by legendary ex-ballplayer Curt Schilling closed in May, leaving the state on the hook for $102 million in bond payments. Until now, Carcieri had remained silent on the 38 Studios deal that passed the General Assembly in 2010 on the promise of hundreds of jobs.

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Carcieri did tell White he wondered if the company would have remained viable if the state had put in more money.

"More could have been done to save the company," he said. He also suggested the state consider defaulting on the loan, something Gov. Lincoln Chafee said Friday he would not do, according to the Providence Journal.

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What do you think? Should Carcieri have apologized? Should the state have done more? Add your comments below.


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