Twin River hires former Speaker Bill Murphy as lobbyist
February 18th, 2013 at 12:14 pm by Ted Nesi under Nesi's Notes, On the Main Site
By Dan McGowan
Former House Speaker-turned super lobbyist William Murphy has picked up his most lucrative gig since walking through the revolving door last year: A $10,000-per-month deal with Twin River casino.
“He’s joined Twin River’s government affairs team,” Twin River spokesperson Patti Doyle told WPRI.com. “Monitoring legislation, available to assist Twin River should any legislative issues arise.”
According to filings with Secretary of State’s office, Murphy will earn $7,500-a-month lobbying the legislature and $2,500-a-month lobbying the executive branch with the casino from Jan. through Dec. In addition to Murphy, Twin River will continue to pay former House Majority Leader George Caruolo $10,000-per-month and Daniel Ryan $7,500-a-month to lobby at the State House.
In November, Rhode Island voters overwhelmingly supported adding table games at Twin River, creating 600 full and part time jobs in the state. Supporters say the gaming expansion will help the casino remain competitive as Massachusetts prepares to add three resort-style casinos in the coming years.
The decision to add the former speaker to their arsenal is a logical one for Twin River. Murphy proved himself as a lobbyist last year for when he helped kill a payday lending reform bill for Advance America; a fight a he’ll likely face again this year. As speaker, Murphy helped override Gov. Carcieri’s veto to allow Twin River to remain open 24 hours-a-day and supported a ballot question asking voters if they would approve opening a casino in West Warwick.
Doyle said Murphy isn’t focused on any specific bill yet, but lawmakers have introduced several pieces of legislation that could affect the casino. House Minority Leader Brian Newberry has proposed increasing the state’s share of revenue generated at Twin River from 18% to 20%. State Rep. Deborah Fellela, D-Johnston, has introduced a bill that would raise the legal gambling age from 18 to 21.
In addition to his work with Twin River, Murphy is slated to earn $50,000 during the legislative session with Advance America and another $25,000 representing the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers.
Tags: bill murphy, casino, table games, twin river
Nesi's Notes covers politics and the economy in and around Rhode Island for WPRI.com. (Twitter: 
599 jobs left.
Are you kidding me. The hammer heading Twin River’s way comes from Massachusetts — not Rhode Island.
Twin River should be hiring former Massachusetts legislators and political operatives. The single biggest threat to Twin River is going to be where Massachusetts sites the casino in SEMass and whether the slot parlor is also licensed in the SEMass region.
Right now there’s no movement on the casino fromt in the region due to the Mashpee Wampanoags awaiting federal approval for their proposed Taunton casino. That could take years.
But if Plainridge Racecourse in Plainville gets the slot parlor license, that’ll be in direct and immediate competition with Twin River.
Don’t forget, 51% of Twin River’s patrons are from Massachusetts, and because of the median income in that state versus RI, it is estimated that 57% of Twin River revenues are Massachusetts-based.
I’m sure Bill Murphy will do a bang-up job with the General Assembly and governor’s office. But unless Twin River’s trying to influence where the MA slot parlor is located — and they should be because that’s their most immediate threat — then they’re whistling past the graveyard.
It is only a matter of time, once the MA slot parlor is operating, that there will likely be amendments to the state gaming law allowing table games at the MA slot parlor. And don’t forget, unlike Twin River, there are no restraints on non-gaming development. Expect a hotel, spa, theaters, restaurants, buffet, retail shopping and other non-gaming amenities at the MA slot parlor.
Eventually, with its 61% gaming tax, no hotel, no spa, no theatre, few restaurants, no buffet, no retail shopping and hardly any other non-gaming amenities, how long do you think it will be before the MA slot parlor, especially it it is located at Plainridge — and just ten minutes south of Gillette Stadium — begins to eat Twin River’s lunch.
Like I said, Twin River ought to be concentrating on Massachusetts — and the former legislators and operatives who can help them in the Bay State. Talk about sticking your head in the sand!
The key is not the work that they expect Murphy to do. It is the message sent to all current legislators – support us now while you are in office, and in a few years when you are out, we will give you a cushy paycheck.