Burt Hoffman wrote:

> Paul Crowley's "compromise" on the Lottery Commission is unacceptable.
> Based on the skimpy description in the Journal, his compromise
> would allow the General Assembly to keep the most important elements
> of gambling regulation and could add new powers that will allow the
> legislature to bypass such hurdles to a destination casino as the
> state-wide referendum.
> Beyond its Trojan horse characteristics is the question of why a
> compromise?
> More than three-quarters of the people voted for separation of
> powers. Speaker Murphy's desperate attempt to satisfy special
> interests and keep the Lottery Commission and the Coastal Resources
> Management Commission under legislative control has no public support.
> The Senate is not supporting him; the members of his House
> constituency recognize that their future service is in jeopardy if
> they support him.
> By now even the Chief Justice must recognize that as much as he'd
> like to reciprocate Murphy's favors, it would be suicidal to rule
> against SOP, if Murphy even manages the votes to request a ruling.
> There is no justification to consider a compromise and even less to
> think that Crowley's proposal to strengthen legislative control over
> gambling in the state has any merit whatsoever.
>
> Burt Hoffman
> 54 Ayrault St.
> Newport, RI 02840-2728
> 401 846 3407
> burthoffman@...
>
>