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Rhode Island Casino Amendment Passes Senate Vote

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island – As reported by the Pawtucket Times: "A proposed constitutional amendment to allow a Narragansett Indian casino in West Warwick continued its seemingly inexorable progress toward the November ballot Tuesday, passing the Senate Committee on Constitutional and Gaming Issues on a 6-3 vote.

"The last legislative obstacle between the amendment and a referendum to be decided by Rhode Island voters is a vote on the Senate floor, now scheduled for Thursday. But for the first time on Tuesday, anti-casino Gov. Donald Carcieri said he may take court action to try to stop the casino amendment if he believes it is 'constitutionally flawed.'

"'I want to make sure that if there is going to be a vote, that there be a clean vote,' Carcieri said after a veto ceremony on an unrelated piece of legislation. Asked if a vote by Rhode Islanders in a referendum wouldn't change the constitution to do their will, Carcieri said, 'Yes, but there is also a federal constitution.'

"He said if the constitutionality is not clear after the Senate vote, that he could take it to the courts to clarify it…"

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