March 24, 2006
by Kevin Gorman and Mike McCallum, The Oregonian
This month Congress is set to act on legislation, both in the Senate and House, to ban off-reservation casinos. Oregonians from across the political spectrum should be keenly interested in this legislation because it could affect whether two Las Vegas-size casinos are built in Portland's backyard. The first would be in the Columbia River Gorge, just minutes from East Multnomah County neighborhoods. The second would be built in Clark County, minutes from North Portland.
Congress should pass this legislation without any exceptions that would allow either the Columbia Gorge or Clark County casinos to go forward. The legislation should treat all tribes equally, not arbitrarily pick winners and losers, which is what any exception would do.
Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee that is writing the bill, is critical to this decision, as is Rep. Greg Walden, R.-Ore., who sits on the House Resources Committee that oversees Native American gaming. But all members of Oregon's congressional delegation should support a ban of off-reservation casinos in general and Oregon's first off-reservation casino in particular because viable on-reservation alternatives exist.
A gorge casino would unnecessarily increase traffic and air pollution in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. It would hurt small businesses, particularly those in East Multnomah County, and it would reduce revenue generated from existing state lottery programs, revenue that supports public schools and other government services.
Until last year, when Gov. Ted Kulongoski announced a change, Oregon had a fair policy that allowed every tribe one casino on reservation lands. That policy served both tribal interests and the public interest.
The fact is, Oregon already has enough casinos. Permitting another one off-reservation at Cascade Locks would open the door to even more because other tribes would argue for fair play. That's why recent polls show that 63 percent of Oregonians oppose the gorge casino and why a diverse coalition of conservationists, small-business owners and pro-family organizations among others have come together to oppose off-reservation casinos.
Even the head of the Cascade Locks City Council has come out against the casino in her own town.
This debate is about far more than the location of a single casino; it's about what kind of state we want to live in. And because tribal gaming is governed by federal and state laws, all of us, not just the residents of one city or one county, have a say in the decision -- and the outcome.
Kevin Gorman is executive director of Friends of the Columbia Gorge. Mike McCallum is president and CEO of the Oregon Restaurant Association. Tim Nashif is political director of the Oregon Family Council.
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