People Against a Casino Town
News from PACT
Oregon Governor loses another battle in casino war


 Four courts and three lawsuits later, we are still trying to get an answer to our Very Simple Question
- how is it legal for a governor to approve casinos in a state whose constitution expressly says "no casinos.





NEWS RELEASE
January 22, 2007

PEOPLE AGAINST A CASINO TOWN
P.O. Box 978
Florence, Oregon  97439


OREGON GOVERNOR LOSES ANOTHER BATTLE IN CASINO WAR

Once again, Governor Kulongoski's tactics have been exposed for what we believe them to be - stalling and trying to 'out money' PACT.

The Oregon Court of Appeals denied yet another of the Governor's efforts, this one to Dismiss PACT's lawsuit.  The Order, issued on January 18, 2007, directs the Governor to respond by February 15.

In June of 2006, PACT filed the Opening Brief (Writ of Mandamus) before the Oregon Court of Appeals asking that they issue an order compelling the Governor to abide by the Oregon Constitution.

Rather than file an answer and let the court rule on PACT's claims that casinos are illegal in Oregon, the Governor's response was more delay.  He filed a motion (i.e. he asked the court) to dismiss our case outright, without hearing the merits of our arguments.  Among attorneys, tactics meant to delay and spend the opponent's money is often called 'pettifoggery'.   Governor Kulongoski is an attorney and former Oregon Supreme Court Justice.

In a recent speech in Washington, D.C., entitled "Government as Brothel: What's Your Pleasure, Honey?" PACT's attorney, Kelly Clark said,

 " Four courts and three lawsuits later, we are still trying to get an answer to our Very Simple Question- how is it legal for a governor to approve casinos in a state whose constitution expressly says "no casinos."

"Governor listen up.  I am not yet an old man, and I plan on being a thorn in your side, or that of your successor,  for many years to come.  And the people of PACT are made of pure steel.  So, no, we won't go away.  Not because of delay or obfuscation or Keystone cop routines or not - this is the most outrageous of all- the outlandish charge that anyone with the unmitigated temerity to raise these issues is racist.

"We are not going away.

"Not until someone in a black robe gives us an answer to our Very Simple Question."

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For more information, contact:

Kelly Clark, Attorney for PACT
O'Donnel and Clark, LLP
1650 NW Naito Parkway
Portland, Oregon  97209-2534
503-306-0224
http://www.oandc.com

======================

pettifogger: noun, a lawyer whose methods are petty, underhanded, or disreputable; one given to quibbling over trifles. (Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary)

pettifogging shyster:  This "combination of epithets every lawyer and citizen knows belongs to none but unscrupulous practitioners who disgrace their profession by doing mean work, and resort to sharp practices to do it." Bailey v. Kalamazoo Pub. Co., 40 Mich. 251, 256 (Black's Law Dictionary)

Theodore Kulongoski,
Attorney: 1970
Oregon House of Representatives: 1974
Oregon State Senate: 1978
Oregon Attorney General: 1992
Oregon Supreme Court: 1996
http://bluebook.state.or.us/state/executive/Office_Governor/govbio.htm



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