LET THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE DECIDE

The Missouri General Assembly finds itself in a "Groundhog Day" sort of dilemma. The movie concerned a man who keeps living the same day over and over. In the legislature's case, it keeps reliving the same issue: riverboat gambling. The Missouri House finds itself hesitant to ask state residents to address ballot questions they've addressed before. However, riverboat gambling development, which voters statewide have said they desire, can not be completely implemented until citizens clear up the court-prompted question about games of chance. We have a suggestion. We urge the legislature to put the matter on the November ballot and accept the outcome win or lose.

When the Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that Missouri gambling provisions allow for games of skill but not games of chance, the General Assembly hurried a measure onto the April ballot in hopes of taking care of the discrepancy. What they didn't count on was the measure's failure. Though narrow in turns of votes cast, the issue failed in 101 of 114 counties, sending a broad signal of statewide uneasiness with these ventures. In the aftermath of the vote, many state legislators voiced reluctance to put the matter back on the ballot any time soon, an attitude that persists with the failure of House Speaker Bob Griffin last week to scare up enough votes (he would have enough in his own party) to advance the matter to an August statewide vote.

Where we fault the reasoning of the speaker is his speculation that a November vote might be deadly for riverboat gambling because a high turnout will be expected in support of U.S. Senate candidate John Ashcroft, a gambling opponent who might be expected to draw those of his thinking to the polls. So, let's get this straight: The gambling vote is no good in April, with its small turnout, and no good in November, with its large turnout. The answer, holdout legislators are told as their arms are twisted, is August, when there is a primary but no competition for Mr. Ashcroft that would draw large numbers of gambling opponents to the voting booths.

The politics of this has been well thought out, but the notion of representative government is absent. The orchestration of this seems at odds with the expressed intent, which is to let the voters decide. It is our desire to see as many voters as possible get a crack at deciding this question, and November is the best time to see that done. If people believe there should be games of chance on gambling boats in Missouri, let them make their case to the most Missourians possible ... and if it's good enough, they will prevail. Then, when the issue is decided in November, let it stay decided. State voters should not be asked to continue to revisit these matters.

The Southeast Missourian's opinion on riverboat gambling has been expounded on in this space before. As a matter of economic development, we believe the location of a floating casino here could have a significant impact, could supply hundreds of jobs for people of the region and could provide an economic shot in the arm for this community. We support those efforts. However, we more fervently support the idea of democratic rule and believe all the maneuvering over election dates is gamesmanship that cheapens the process. If lawmakers want to get the matter decided, let them put the question on the November ballot. Then, let the statewide consensus on riverboat gambling be viewed as clear and inarguable.