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Courts Look at Rhode Island Law Again

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island – As reported by the Woonsocket Call: "This time, the Supreme Court will get to say whether casino legislation is constitutional before it becomes law.

"State Rep. Timothy Williamson plans to introduce a resolution when the House returns from next week's spring break asking the high court four questions about the bill. Williamson is the West Warwick Democrat who sponsored a bill to put a referendum for approval of a Narragansett Indian casino in West Warwick on the ballot during a special election in November. Last year, the General Assembly passed detailed casino legislation, then overrode Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri's veto. The governor then put the question of whether the bill was constitutional to a panel of three justices.

"They ruled that, because the bill said the casino would be operated by Harrah's Entertainment Inc., the Narragansetts' partner in the casino project, it was unconstitutional. This was based on a provision in the state constitution saying all lotteries -- interpreted as any games of chance -- must be operated by the state of Rhode Island…"

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