In a reckless act, legislators are rushing through the Rhode Island General Assembly a plan that would effectively lock unsustainable teacher-union contracts in place indefinitely. It is hard to imagine what they are thinking in taking a step that could undercut the ability of every community in Rhode Island to negotiate contracts to better serve the common good.

That would leave some communities with little choice except to raise taxes by double digits, sowing enormous financial hardship for citizens and struggling businesses, or to declare bankruptcy.

Are taxpayers truly so poorly represented at the State House?

It would seem so. This legislation, sponsored by Peter Palumbo (D.-Cranston) and pushed hard by Sen. Charles Levesque (D.-Bristol and Portsmouth), flew through the Senate by a margin of 32-2 and seemed ready to be rushed through the House.

The legislation was clearly designed to stop cold the East Providence School Committee. Facing enormous deficits, and unable to negotiate a contract that sufficiently reduced expenses, that committee acted unilaterally to control costs, arguing that since the old contract had expired, the city had the ability to make adjustments in an economic emergency. The union argued that the committee’s action was tantamount to failing to bargain in good faith.

That matter is now before the courts. The General Assembly should let that process play out, rather than coming down on one side.

By now, it should be clear to anyone who reads the newspaper that Rhode Island communities, buffeted by declining or stagnant tax revenues, are finding it increasingly difficult to sustain union contracts that provide remarkably generous benefits to public employees.

Clearly, contracts must be brought in line with the ability of communities to pay for them. But if contracts can be extended indefinitely, the old benefits will never be cut, nor will education reforms be made to better serve the interests of students. The unions will have a powerful incentive to hold out for a very, very long time.

The economic mess certain to ensue from such a law — hastening the flight of the middle class to less punishing states, something already happening — would damage Rhode Island severely, and make the needs of students even less of a factor than they are now.