In radio interview, Mattiello tries to pin 38 Studios on Frias

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello spent a half-hour Wednesday morning on WPRO-AM defending the truck tolls, renewing his pledge of a day earlier to phase out Rhode Island's local car taxes within "three to five years" and promising to avert another legislative session-ending all-nighter.

He also suggested his GOP opponent, Steven Frias, had more to do with the 38 Studios debacle than he did. "Shame on him," Mattiello said of Frias.

And then, former state Democratic Party Chairman Bill Lynch jumped into the fray, with allegations that Frias — the Republican National Committeeman for Rhode Island — "has a long history of personally benefiting from his inside connections."

"More smears and lies from the Mattiello team. This is completely ridiculous," said Frias, suggesting the allegations carried a whiff of desperation.

Read more: http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20161005/updated-in-radio-interview-mattiello-tries-to-pin-38-studios-on-frias