Three questions about what is happening at the Rhode Island Statehouse this week…

1. Given that a Constitutional referendum on the expansion of gambling looks to have been fast-tracked, will the referendum be simply a yes-or-no decision on the casino, with all of the details to be decided by the legislature later, as at least one early report from Katherine Gregg of the Projo seems to suggest…

   Asked how quickly Twin River could become a casino, and how much it expected to pay the state on its new offerings, [Twin River spokeswoman Patti Doyle ]said: “With respect to timing and tax rate, we remain focused at this juncture on receiving voter feedback on the will to expand gaming at Twin River. All other issues will be explored should the ballot question win voter approval.”

   
   
2. Will the Senate take up the ethics reform amendment (h/t Ian Donnis of WRNI 1290AM) that has already been passed by the House, restoring the State Ethics Commission’s jurisdiction over state legislators to the scope that Rhode Island voters intended in 1986? Or will the Senate leadership team of Teresa Paiva-Weed and Daniel Connors refuse to let the ethics bill be voted on, because they believe that a code of ethics that prohibits the casting of votes based on bribes or other personal financial gain will overly impede the normal operation of the Rhode Island legislature?
   
3. Will a funding formula for education be passed? Is the Rhode Island Department of Education plan still the favorite, and how might it be combined with pieces of the Gallo plan (such as the hold-harmless provision regarding aid-changes) or the Ajello plan (such as more more more for current big-aid recipients)?