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LP
Since 05 Apr 2007
115 Posts
HR
Stoked
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 Tue May 04, 10 8:12 pm good news for the Gorge |
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Bipartisan opposition to a Gorge casino.
The threat is not over yet, but this is a step in that direction:
Oregon candidates for governor join in opposing Columbia Gorge casino
By Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian
May 04, 2010, 9:25PM
The proposed Warm Springs tribal casino in the Columbia Gorge town of Cascade Locks took another heavy blow Tuesday when all four of the leading candidates for governor expressed opposition to the proposal.
Roger Jensen/The Oregonian/2005
A camper travels past the site of a proposed Warm Springs tribal casino in Cascade Locks.
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, which runs a competing casino southwest of Portland, released written statements opposing the casino from Democrats John Kitzhaber and Bill Bradbury, as well as Republicans Chris Dudley and Allen Alley.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski and the Warm Springs tribes signed a compact in 2005 allowing the casino to proceed. But the project has been hung up since then in the U.S. Department of Interior, raising doubts about whether the casino will be built.
The opposition from the gubernatorial candidates casts another cloud over the casino since the next governor will likely have the final say on the project, if it gets federal approval.
"It would be very difficult for that proposal to become reality" given how the candidates stand, said Justin Martin, a lobbyist for the Grand Ronde tribes.
Len Bergstein, a lobbyist representing the Warm Springs tribes, said there might be enough wiggle room in some of the candidate statements that they could eventually support the project. He noted that both Bradbury and Dudley talked about opposing an "off-reservation" casino, but the Cascade Locks property could technically become reservation land, if it gets federal approval.
Bradbury's campaign manager, Jeremy Wright, said his candidate could indeed still support the Warm Springs casino depending on its reservation status. However, Dudley's spokeswoman, Brittany Bramell, said that "Chris doesn't support the building of a casino in Cascade Locks or in the Columbia Gorge under any circumstance."
One of Dudley's informal advisers is Dan Lavey, a Portland consultant who helped the Grand Ronde tribes launch an advertising campaign in 2005 against placing a casino in the Columbia Gorge. In 2006, the Grand Ronde confederation ran more than $800,000 in advertising attacking two candidates in the governor's race -- Kulongoski, who was up for re-election, and Republican Kevin Mannix -- for supporting the Cascade Locks casino.
Alley gave the Grand Ronde tribes a statement saying simply that he would "oppose the Gorge casino."
Kitzhaber, meanwhile, has a long record of opposing the Warms Springs proposal. He fought it when he was governor and he gave the Grand Ronde tribes a statement saying there are "other good alternatives for the Warm Springs Tribe" on their existing reservation land.
While the Grand Ronde have not endorsed anyone in the primary, they have donated $20,000 to Kitzhaber, compared with $2,000 each for Bradbury and Dudley and $1,000 for Alley. "It's pretty easy to tell who we're supporting," said Martin, the tribal lobbyist.
Martin said he would also be "very surprised and hurt" to find that Bradbury did not flatly oppose a casino in the gorge given what he had told the tribal officials in a meeting.
-- Jeff Mapes |
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forrest
Since 21 Jun 2005
4330 Posts
Hood River
Hick
CGKA Member
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| Wed May 05, 10 9:37 am |
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It's all about getting a casino as close to Portland as possible. That's why The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde are even involved in this, they have the closest at the moment and don't want any competition.
I heard there is some reservation land here in Hood River that they could build a casino on with little hurdles? Anyone know anything about this? |
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bfar
Since 03 Oct 2006
25 Posts
HR
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| Wed May 05, 10 4:08 pm casino |
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| If I remember right the land in HR is just over I 84 along the road toward the tunnels/old scenic highway. I think because the land would have been expensive to build on (sidehill) whatever and so close to HR they proposed a land trade and the Cascade Locks site came into the picture. I don't know if an actual land trade ocured but I do remember that the Tribe had every right to build on the HR location based on their treaty. It was a very polarizing time in HR during those debates! |
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bfar
Since 03 Oct 2006
25 Posts
HR
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| Wed May 05, 10 4:13 pm |
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| .......or maybe there was another proposal for the west end of town near the I 84 off ramp??? Might have to check the HR news archives for that! |
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LP
Since 05 Apr 2007
115 Posts
HR
Stoked
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forrest
Since 21 Jun 2005
4330 Posts
Hood River
Hick
CGKA Member
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| Wed May 05, 10 10:09 pm |
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| Interesting, thanks for that info LP. |
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melokitegirl
Since 28 Oct 2008
396 Posts
Where the wind blows
Obsessed
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| Thu May 06, 10 6:52 am |
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Not quite sure if building a casino is a good or bad thing. I'm not an Oregon resident. The indians built a casino close to where my father lives in Snoqualmie, Washington. There was a lot of opposition from the locals. Now...that's where all the locals go to party & listen to music venues. Kind of like a walmart- people bitch about it, then shop there. Go figure.
What chaps my hide is the fact that there is no tax revenue from Casino's for the state or Fed since American Indians don't pay taxes.
Melissa
_________________
Be kind to Kooks |
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tstansbury
Since 06 Jun 2006
649 Posts
Rowena and P.C
Addicted
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| Thu May 06, 10 7:55 am |
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| I say the state should put a state run casino in memorial colusium and be done with it. |
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forrest
Since 21 Jun 2005
4330 Posts
Hood River
Hick
CGKA Member
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| Thu May 06, 10 9:07 am |
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| A volunteer tax for people who can't do math! |
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pacifichigh
Since 11 May 2005
1004 Posts
ATX
Texan
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| Thu May 06, 10 9:40 am |
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I don't understand why a casino is such a bad thing for the gorge.
Jobs, Tourism, Tax Base
The anti-business culture in Oregon certainly has done wonders for the economy |
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forrest
Since 21 Jun 2005
4330 Posts
Hood River
Hick
CGKA Member
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| Thu May 06, 10 9:48 am |
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A Casino means more turd matter in the water! I think it's more of a "I got mine, but I'm not going to let you get yours." At least that's the impression I get.
Texas though... It's the opposite side of the spectrum from Oregon. Business trumps all, even quality of life there. |
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melokitegirl
Since 28 Oct 2008
396 Posts
Where the wind blows
Obsessed
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| Thu May 06, 10 10:01 am |
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| Forrest wrote: | | A volunteer tax for people who can't do math! |
Huh?
People that can't do math are the problem and are the lowest income earners. Thanks to our educational system that rewards tenure vs. performance. What really sucks is that they(uneducated low income) vote on things that only benefit themselves as long as they don't have to pay for it. Volunteer Tax? Give me a break.
Build the casino but tax it like every other business.
M.
_________________
Be kind to Kooks |
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melokitegirl
Since 28 Oct 2008
396 Posts
Where the wind blows
Obsessed
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| Thu May 06, 10 10:09 am |
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| pacifichigh wrote: |
Jobs, Tourism, Tax Base |
The jobs are only for american indians and they don't get taxed anyway.
Tourism: Are you sure you want "hill like" oregonian tourists coming to The Gorge to see a
southern rock tribute band screaming "free bird"?
M.
_________________
Be kind to Kooks |
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pdxmonkeyboy
Since 16 May 2006
6081 Posts
forever labled as the
retired kiter & motorhead Unicorn Master
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| Thu May 06, 10 10:09 am |
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| Forrest wrote: | A Casino means more turd matter in the water! I think it's more of a "I got mine, but I'm not going to let you get yours." At least that's the impression I get.
Texas though... It's the opposite side of the spectrum from Oregon. Business trumps all, even quality of life there. |
True that remark Forrest. I do seem to recall a HUGE FUCKING OILSPILL in the gulf that could have been dramatically reduced if our Texas president and evil side kick hadn't been so "business friendly". I can hear it now...those sniveling left wing crybabbies and their unnecessary safety measures.
Anywho.... Yeah, native americans don't pay taxes..big fucking deal. Name one original US treaty with the natives that we have honored as a country? Seriously, name me one. They don't pay taxes because many are sovereign nations.
I think the biggest beef people have with the Casino is that they want to PUT IT IN THE MIDDLE OF A NATIONAL SCENIC AREA !!!! Hello!! Put that shit in the middle of the desert or next to the highway where it belongs.
Business friendly, business friendly.. whatever. News flash, life isn't about business and the pursuit of money. |
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forrest
Since 21 Jun 2005
4330 Posts
Hood River
Hick
CGKA Member
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| Thu May 06, 10 10:22 am |
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Lottery/Lotto are classic examples of volunteer taxes for people who can't do math. By "math" I just mean calculating the odds of winning.
| melokitegirl wrote: |
Huh?
People that can't do math are the problem and are the lowest income earners. Thanks to our educational system that rewards tenure vs. performance. What really sucks is that they(uneducated low income) vote on things that only benefit themselves as long as they don't have to pay for it. Volunteer Tax? Give me a break.
Build the casino but tax it like every other business.
M. |
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melokitegirl
Since 28 Oct 2008
396 Posts
Where the wind blows
Obsessed
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| Thu May 06, 10 10:34 am |
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ohhhh. No lottery in Utah so its off my radar....
M.
_________________
Be kind to Kooks |
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Moto
Since 03 Sep 2006
2698 Posts
Still a gojo pimp!
Moto Mouth
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| Thu May 06, 10 10:54 am |
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| melokitegirl wrote: | | Thanks to our educational system that rewards tenure vs. performance. |
The educational system for people in the lower tax brackets is in a world of hurt - the tenure v. performance is one of many issues they face. Another massive problem they deal with on a daily basis is underfunding. These kids receive subpar education and then are thrust upon the world to sink or swim without a life vest - and guess what - many sink 
I could go on for days about the topic . . . 
_________________
Still rockin gojos, *ssless chaps, and ankle weights! |
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