Oregon Measure 83, Multnomah County Casino Initiative (2012)
| Multnomah County Casino Initiative | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Initiated state statute |
| Origin | Citizens |
| Topic | Gambling |
| Status |  |
An Oregon Multnomah County Casino Initiative, Measure 83, was on the November 6, 2012 statewide ballot in the state of Oregon as an initiated state statute, where it was defeated.
Election results
- See also: 2012 ballot measure election results
| Oregon Measure 83 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| No | 1,207,508 | 70.77% | ||
| Yes | 500,123 | 29.23% | ||
- Official results from the Oregon Secretary of State.
Text of measure
The draft ballot title was:[1]
Result of "Yes" Vote: "Yes" vote authorizes a single privately-owned casino in Multnomah County; requires casino 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: Currently, Oregon Constitution prohibits establishing casinos within state. Under the measure, State Lottery shall issue renewable 15-year lease permitting owner of former Multnomah Kennel Club in Multnomah County to operate gaming devices, table games, keno, other games of chance at that site. Measure would become operative only if constitution is amended to permit casinos within state. Casino operator shall pay 25% of adjusted gross revenues into a Job Growth, Education and Communities Fund (separate from general fund), and 80% in the State Lottery Fund. Moneys in the Job Growth fund are apportioned to the incorporated cities adjoining casino, Indian tribes, law enforcement, and gambling treatment services. Other provisions.
Support
The developers, along with those who supported the two state-wide and the one local 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 have created 3,000 temporary jobs, while the completed center would provide the area with 2000 permanent jobs.[2]
Opposition
Those who opposed the approval and construction of the privately owned casino argued that 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 claimed that bringing in a third party would have crippled these benefits.[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, 28 percent of respondents were certain to vote 'yes' on the measure, while 39 percent were certain to vote 'no,' and another 33 percent were not certain which way they would vote. The survey interviewed 700 Oregon citizens and has 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 | 28% | 39% | 33% | 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 87,213 valid signatures by July 6, 2012. On July 27, 2012, the Oregon Secretary of State reported that the measure had received sufficient signatures and therefore qualified for the ballot.[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, "Initiative 38 ballot title," December 15, 2011
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Oregon ballot initiatives (dead link)
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