House Minority Leader Chippendale offers statement on the loss of Rhode Island legacy company, Hasbro

9/8/2025

Infographic | Printer Friendly View

State House, Providence – Rhode Island House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale offers the following statement in regard to the loss of Hasbro to Massachusetts:

“Once again, Rhode Island is left watching a major legacy company leave our state despite costly efforts to lure and retain businesses with taxpayer-funded incentive packages. This cycle repeats itself because our leaders fail to focus on improving our dismal, bottom-ranking business climate. Instead, we continue to try to compete in niche sector arenas where we cannot win against our larger neighbors, like Massachusetts.

We must stop chasing corporations with taxpayer-funded giveaways, focus on correcting what is driving this exodus, and improve our business climate for those that have invested in our state. Good jobs for our residents and building a solid tax base depends on thoughtful action now. It requires leaders willing to change the status quo -- that will fight for reform, not just talk about it while clutching their pearls.

It is time that Rhode Island accepts the reality of our geography. Our strength is on the water. With a world-class deep-water port at Quonset, our naval heritage, and a growing defense and shipbuilding sector, we have assets that cannot be replicated elsewhere in New England. We should focus our strategy and investment on strengthening Rhode Island’s role in maritime commerce, naval research, and defense manufacturing. That is how we create lasting jobs, expand our tax base, and build an economy that plays to our strengths.”

(Click the image above to expand.)

The 2025 Rhode Island House Minority (Republican) Caucus is comprised of the following elected members: Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale, District 40 (Foster/Glocester/Coventry); Minority Whip David J. Place, District 47 (Burrillville/Glocester); Representative George Nardone, District 28 (Coventry); Representative Brian Newberry, District 48 (North Smithfield/Burrillville); Representative Robert Quattrocchi, District 41 (Scituate/Cranston); Representative Sherry Roberts, District 29 (Coventry/West Greenwich); Representative Richard Fascia, District 42 (Johnston/Cranston); Representative Marie Hopkins, District 21 (Warwick); Representative Chris Paplauskas, District 15 (Cranston); Representative Paul Santucci, District 53 (Smithfield/Glocester).

LIKE THIS PAGE? SHARE IT WITH OTHERS

About rhode island house republicans

In 1636, Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island, established the first working model of Democracy after being banished from Massachusetts for his “extreme views” concerning freedom of speech and religion. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams publicly acknowledged Williams as the originator of these concepts, along with the freedom of public assembly, in the First Amendment in the United States Constitution. Today, Rhode Island House Republicans uphold the liberties designed by our Founders and preserved in our Constitution, and are the primary legislative body promoting lean government, fighting for lower taxes, and advocating for initiatives and policies that improve the economy and in turn, the lives of Rhode Islanders. As members of a part-time assembly, we are small business owners, retired educators, community activists, lawyers, farmers, military service veterans, volunteers, former local officials, retired social workers, coaches, musicians, churchgoers and board directors -- bringing these community engagement and professional experiences to our work, on your behalf, at the Rhode Island State House.