Yesterday I discussed an online poker bill in California that is so poorly written it is even opposed by those who are pushing for online poker in the state. In case you think that California is alone in its legislative ineptitude, let me assure you that they have plenty of company. Take Rhode Island, for instance.

Rhode Island is the state best known for being near other states that are better known. It also apparently has idiots in their legislature. That’s not surprising. In fact, I’m surprised when I find a politician who is not demonstrably stupid, corrupt or dangerous to society.

Anyway, Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri vetoed a bill yesterday that would have allowed voters to decide whether the state’s two current slot parlors can become full casinos, including offering table games. The plan for a voter referendum was nixed because, according to the governor, it was missing “critical financial information” and took too much power away from the individual communities.

So in other words, the bill is so poorly written that, according to Carcieri, it’s not even ready for the issue to come to a vote. Massachusetts begins debating a proposal for casino expansion today, and as soon as it was learned that they may go ahead with the expansion, the current Rhode Island bill was written. Proponents of the bill think it is important to get casinos up and running as soon as possible in order to avoid losing business to their neighbors in the Bay State.

Governor Carcieri told the lawmakers that there is no rush and that they should take the time to craft a good bill. “While some would argue the threat of gaming in neighboring states requires immediate action,” he said, “I believe the advantage of already established venues allows us the time to develop better information.”

Among the information that needs to be developed and included in the bill is how the revenue from the casinos will be split. The current bill does not specify how much money will go to the state. Carcieri also said that a statewide vote on the matter would take power away from the residents of Newport and Lincoln, where the casinos in question are located.

The governor’s veto can be overturned by a 2/3 vote by state lawmakers, which is a possibility, but it is more likely that they will have to start over and write a new bill.

In the controversial subject of gambling expansion, it seems that everyone has an opinion. Lawmakers in Rhode Island have gone and done something rare in this day and age: They will let the people decide.

I know, I know. It’s just crazy. They’re acting like the government is supposed to work for the people or something. Late yesterday, the Rhode Island House of Representatives passed a bill authorizing a voter referendum on gambling expansion. Hours later, the state Senate passed the bill. The bill now goes to Republican Governor Donald Carcieri, who is expected to sign it. If he does, that sets the table for a voter referendum during the November election.

The gambling expansion at issue involves to existing state-licensed slot parlors, Twin River in Lincoln and Newport Grand in Newport. If the referendum is passed, the slot parlors could be adapted into full-fledged casinos, including blackjack and other popular casino table games.

The bill passed the House on a 62-12 vote and the Senate on a 21-14 vote. Representative Peter Petrarca, a Democrat, stated that he was excited about letting the people decide because they “are intelligent enough to know what they want to do,” thus contradicting the official Democratic party platform.

Not everyone is excited about it, though. Fellow Democrat Senator Teresa Paiva, who represents Newport, isn’t a fan of gambling expansion in her community. Many lawmakers expressed concerns for possible detrimental effects on the community, such as in increase in gambling addiction.

In the end, though, the lawmakers did the right thing. There are pros and cons to everything and in this case, they’re letting the people decide. Of course, this is also a clever way of protecting themselves politically. Gambling is a controversial issue and these lawmakers will be able to avoid responsibility for the outcome of the vote because they didn’t decide; the people did.

Rhode Island is seeking gambling expansion in part because Massachusetts is considering the same and they are worried about losing gambling customers across the border. In this tough economic climate, many states are looking to gambling expansion, including some considering legalizing and regulating intrastate online gambling.