For almost a decade, a debate has raged over whether state and federal governments should approve Oregon's first off-reservation casino, resort and parking lot in the Columbia River Gorge. And with each year, The Oregonian's logic to justify the casino becomes more tortured (Cascade Locks casino gets its hearing, 3/9/08). What becomes clearer each year is that the more Oregonians debate a gorge casino, the less they support it. That's because the current policy that allows each Oregon tribe one casino on reservation lands is fair, treats all tribes equally and limits casinos.

Approving a gorge casino is a radical policy change, will damage the environment of Oregon's greatest natural treasure and will open the door to more off-reservation and private casinos across the state.

What's more, in response to rising national concerns about the explosion of off-reservation casinos, the Department of Interior recently issued new guidelines that say new off-reservation casinos should be within a reasonable daily commute of Indian reservations to prevent "reservation shopping" and to ensure that tribal members who live on reservations enjoy most of the jobs and benefits of tribal casinos.

The proposed Cascade Locks casino is a 218-mile round-trip daily drive from the town of Warm Springs, where most tribal members live. A daily 218-mile round-trip commute is unreasonable, unsafe and unnecessary when an on-reservation alternative is available and would employ more tribal members. The border of the Warm Springs reservation may be 40 miles "as the crow flies" to Cascade Locks, but it is a 218-mile round trip drive from where most tribal members actually reside. Depending on the weather and road conditions, that's a two-to-three hour, potentially dangerous, daily commute.

If protecting the gorge environment is your major concern, you should know the threat of a Hood River casino is a red herring -- illegal and not feasible. You should also know that a gorge casino will put thousands more cars on Interstate 84 each year, increasing greenhouse gases and air pollution. Most surprising, the National Marine Fisheries Service said casino construction could harm eight species of endangered and threatened salmon and steelhead.

If your main concern is the growing number of casinos, you should know that government approval of Oregon's first off-reservation casino sets a political and legal precedent that will make it very difficult to stop future off-reservation or private casino requests. And unlike current tribal casinos in Oregon, a Cascade Locks casino would be very near a major urban area and east Multnomah County neighborhoods, churches and schools.

Maintaining the current policy and allowing one on-reservation casino per tribe is the right choice. This is a fair policy that treats all tribes equally, limits casinos, protects the gorge and ultimately has the potential to dramatically improve the lives and livelihoods of the Warms Springs people. It may not be the preferred choice for some but it's the best choice for all.

Kevin Gorman represents Friends of the Columbia Gorge. Bill Perry represents the Oregon Restaurant Association. Nick Graham represents the Oregon Family Council.