People Against a Casino Town

News from PACT

October 23, 2003 PRESS RELEASE PACT NOT SURPRISED BY GOVERNOR’S RESPONSE On Tuesday, October 21, Governor Kulongoski filed his response to the lawsuit brought by People Against a Casino Town (PACT), a grassroots group trying to keep an Indian casino out of their coastal community of Florence. PACT’s lawsuit asks the Oregon Supreme Court to declare the state’s compact with the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians to be in violation of the State’s constitution.  Former Governor John Kitzhaber signed the compact allowing a proposed Florence area gambling casino during the closing minutes of his administration. Arnold Buchman, spokesperson for PACT, said, “The Governor’s response clearly defines his position that the Oregon Constitution does not apply to all Oregonians.  PACT has taken the position in its lawsuit that the Oregon Constitution applies equally to all.  We continue to be disappointed that the Governor does not share this position and, instead, would leave Oregonians exposed to his interpretation of federal Indian gambling statutes.” PACT President, Susie Dewberry said the Governor’s response contained no surprises.  “We learned last July when he failed to continue the state’s lawsuit against the casino in federal court that the citizens of Florence would be left to defend themselves against the inequities of Indian gambling laws,” said Dewberry,  “Rather than relying on the Governor, we are now relying upon our Constitution’s absolute prohibition against casinos - a prohibition which the Governor is sworn to uphold.” The Constitutional provision upon which the lawsuit is based states:  “The Legislative Assembly has no power to authorize, and shall prohibit, casinos from operation in the State of Oregon.”  Constitution of Oregon, Article XV, Section 4(12)

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