Oregon Measure 82, Privately-Owned Casinos Amendment (2012)
| Privately-Owned Casinos Amendment | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Constitutional amendment |
| Origin | Citizens |
| Topic | Gambling |
| Status |  |
The Oregon Privately-Owned Casinos Amendment, Measure 82, was on the November 6, 2012 statewide ballot as an initiated constitutional amendment, where it was defeated.
Election results
- See also: 2012 ballot measure election results
| Oregon Measure 82 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| No | 1,226,331 | 71.71% | ||
| Yes | 485,240 | 28.29% | ||
- Official results from the Oregon Secretary of State.
Text of measure
The official ballot title was:[1]
Result of "Yes" Vote: "Yes" vote amends state constitution to authorize privately-owned casinos; requires such casinos to give percentage of monthly revenue to State Lottery for specified purposes.
Result of "No" Vote: "No" vote maintains the current state of the law, which does not authorize any privately-owned casino or casinos anywhere in the State of Oregon.
Summary: Amends constitution. Currently, Oregon Constitution prohibits the operation of any casino within state. Under measure, State Lottery shall permit the operation of privately-owned casinos within the state, provided that the particular operation is approved through initiative law. If the privately-owned casino is to be located within an incorporated city, city electors must also approve casino location. The privately-owned casino shall pay 25% of adjusted gross revenues each month to a fund created by law for the purposes of fostering job growth, educational achievement, vibrant local communities, protecting and improving natural environment, and supporting all federally recognized Indian tribes in Oregon. Amendment prohibits operation of privately-owned casino within 60-mile radius of existing tribal casino operating on reservation land.
Support
The developers, along with those who supported the one local and two statewide measures approving the privately owned casino, pointed out that the new casino, as the only casino to pay taxes, would provide $100 million to the state in new tax revenue and that construction of the casino, hotel, and other features would create 3,000 temporary jobs, while the completed center would provide the area with 2,000 permanent jobs.[2]
Opposition
Those who opposed the approval and construction of the privately owned casino argued tribes get much needed funding for housing and health care from their casinos and the state provides funding for schools, parks, and economic development through its lottery program. They claim that bringing in a third party would have crippled these benefits and wonder why Oregonians would want to open up the door for this third party competition.[2]
Media editorial positions
Opposition
- The Register-Guard said, "Before voting “yes” on Measures 82 and 83, Oregon voters should ask themselves three questions:
"Is it possible that most of the money that would be spent at The Grange would be "new" money and money spent by out-of-state visitors, and that the new upscale development wouldn’t siphon funds away from the lottery and the tribal casinos?
Is it possible that once the Wood Village project is approved, Oregon voters will slam the door on proposals to build more privately owned casinos?
And, finally, given the lottery and the tribal casinos we already have, does Oregon really need any more gambling outlets?
If the answer to any of those questions is "no," then voters should vote "no" on Measures 82 and 83."[3]
Polls
- See also: Polls, 2012 ballot measures
- According to a SurveyUSA poll conducted from September 10 to September 13, 2012, 27 percent of respondents were certain to vote 'yes' on the measure, while 43 percent were certain to vote 'no,' and another 31 percent were not certain which way they would vote. The survey interviewed 700 Oregon citizens and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percent.[4]
|
| Date of Poll | Pollster | In favor | Opposed | Undecided | Number polled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep. 10-13, 2012 | SurveyUSA | 27% | 43% | 31% | 700 |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Oregon signature requirements
In order to qualify for the ballot, supporters were required to collect a minimum of 116,283 valid signatures by July 6, 2012. According to the Secretary of State website, 116,521 signatures were verified on July 20, 2012.[5]
See also
External links
Additional reading
- NPR, "Effort To Establish Non-Tribal Casino Begins Again In Oregon," December 16, 2011
- "Oregon casino plans unveiled ahead of vote" August 24, 2012
- "Design unveiled for proposed casino that will go to public vote" August 23, 2012
- "Casino proponents launch ad; citizen panel says reject Measure 82" August 24, 2012
- "Proposed casino planned if two ballot measures pass" August 23, 2012
- OPB.org, "Casino Supporters Suspend Campaign," October 17, 2012
Footnotes
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Certified Initiative 36 ballot title," January 19, 2012
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Oregon Live," "Wood Village casino backers show off plans for 'uniquely Oregon' development"
- ↑ Register-Guard, "ENDORSEMENT: Measures 82 and 83 — No," September 24, 2012
- ↑ SurveyUSA, "In Oregon, Obama Under-Performs 2008, But Still Sits 9 Points Atop Romney in 2012; 4 Ballot Measures Examined:," September 2012
- ↑ Initiative 36 (status)
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