UPDATE, 12:25 pm: Costantino backs ballot question for table games

House Finance Committee chairman Steven Costantino, a Providence mayoral candidate, says he expects a question to be placed on the November ballot that could introduce table games at Twin River and Newport Grand.

Rhode Island’s State Senate Majority Leader Dan Connors last week mentioned the word that shall not be uttered at the State House. Connors said the General Assembly may have to raise taxes to cover the $220 million state budget deficit. WRNI political analyst Scott MacKay says 2010 may bring reality to a state government that too often is content to rule by slogan.

      Senate Majority Leader Dan Connors, D_Cumberland, is saying out loud what many State House Democrats have been thinking: That Governor Carcieri's budget-balancing plan is too harsh on the state's 39 cities and towns.

 In an interview with WRNI and in a statement released today, Connors said the Carcieri's more than $100 million in mid-year cuts to cities and towns is not realistic.

Gov. Donald Carcieri will propose to the General Assembly that the state make deep cuts in aid to cities and towns, reduce education spending, further slash state employee pension benefits and make cuts in social services.

UPDATE: Comment from Carcieri.

An excerpt:

Yesterday's Senate vote in favor of 24/7 gambling at Twin River sets a collision course with the Caricieri administration, which previously warned that altering the preservation plan for the facility could cost the state some very big money.

As usual, the House's consideration of the budget began after its scheduled 2 pm start yesterday, and it extended long into the night, wrapping up at about 2 am.

House Finance Chairman Steven M. Costantino encouraged lawmakers to congratulate themselves for their work, and they proceeded to do so with a round of applause.

Costantino called the budget "pretty fair." He said the spending plan represents "a shared responsibility" and "a shared opportunity."

As noted here, House Minority Leader Robert Watson last week sharply criticized House Finance's inclusion in the fiscal 2010 budget of a $100 fee to expunge eligible criminal charges. He also rapped Attorney General Patrick Lynch for supporting the measure.

Here's Lynch spokesman Michael Healey's explanation for the AG's support:

House Republican Minority Leader Robert Watson of East Greenwich seems nothing if not consistent in opposing state tax and fee increases. And with the RI GOP in disarray, he still relishes a bit of the annual budgetary limelight with his knack for well-turned rhetorical soundbites.

The House Finance Committee has taken the wraps off a state budget for next year that raises the capital gains tax, cuts state pension benefits to school teachers and state employees and eliminates the job of state health insurance czar Chris Koller.

The spending package of roughly $7.8 billion esentially level funds education and trims state departmental spending accross the board by 5 percent in the first 6 months of the fiscal year that begins July and an additional 2.5 percent in the second 6 months.