"We have often said that the General Assembly should give Rhode Islanders an opportunity to vote, and soon, on a full-fledged casino pushed by Harrah's and the Narragansett Indian Tribe. But the proposal last week by Rep. Timothy Williamson (D.-West Warwick), and backed by Harrah's and the tribe, is a very bad one.

The plan would turn the state constitution -- for the first time -- into a vehicle to promote a specific business: in this case, Las Vegas-based Harrah's, which wishes to build a casino in Mr. Williamson's hometown, West Warwick. Representative Williamson's proposed amendment would:

-- Lock in, "for a minimum of 10 years," a graduated tax rate, starting at 25 percent of net gambling revenues, that Harrah's would pay.

-- Earmark the casino's revenue to an unspecified "property-tax-relief" program.

-- Create a new gambling commission, under the control of legislative leaders.

A state's constitution -- which lays out the rights of the people and sets the powers of, and limits on, the branches of government -- is not the place to display such affection for a commercial enterprise. And other states have found that benefits for specific interests put into a constitution are fiendishly difficult to remove."

Get the Story:
Editorial: A bad casino plan (The Providence Journal 1/27)
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