Editorial: Put Narragansett casino on ballot

Tuesday, January 17, 2006  

"We endorse the general idea of a referendum question on next fall's Rhode Island ballot regarding whether the Narragansett Indian Tribe, in partnership with a company, should be allowed to build and run a full-service Foxwoods-style casino in the state.

Of course, before coming to a final decision on this matter, it's important to see the exact wording of the proposed question. We don't know if the phrasing proposed by Patrick Conley, a consultant to Harrah's -- the company that wants to build the casino with the tribe -- is appropriate. The flamboyant Mr. Conley, a historian and real-estate developer, as well as a lawyer, says that he would word it something like this: "That there would be a lottery that was privately operated by the Narragansett Indian tribe and its chosen partner and regulated by the state." He believes that "lottery" would be the proper constitutional term to cover a casino.

You can fiddle with the wording but the main issue is whether citizens should have the right to vote on such a major piece of public policy.

We say that it's only fair."

Get the Story:
Put casino on ballot (The Providence Journal 1/17)
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