Indian gaming is an ongoing target
Squabbles over gambling in Idaho may be with us forever.
Or thereabouts.
Let’s see, in the 2017 legislative session, the House State Affairs Committee managed a squeaky 8-7 vote to prevent the advancement of a bill that would have banned all gaming.
The ramifications of that bill, sponsored by Chairman Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, had the Coeur d’Alene Tribe on pins and needles.
Profits from the casino complex near Worley basically support the entire tribal government — not to mention the critical medical complex in Plummer and many jobs held by non-tribal members.
It’s puzzling how three Republican representatives from North Idaho (Vito Barbieri from Dalton Gardens, Heather Scott of Blanchard and Priscilla Giddings of White Bird) all were counted among the seven losing votes.
What’s baffling is that gutting tribal income would have put about a thousand people out of work locally, and thus leave them dependent on the type of government help that these legislators claim is wrecking the state economy.
But the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and other Native American gaming interests around Idaho survived a vote by that tiny margin, so you’d think we could forget about a gambling battle — at least for a few deep breaths.
No luck.
The same interests who basically “duped” the legislature into allowing slot machine-style devices by calling them historic horse races in 2013 — and had the law repealed two years later — are back for another shot.
By the way, that word “duped” isn’t mine.
It was used several times by legislators as both chambers eliminated the slot imitations at Greyhound Park in Post Falls, at Les Bois Park near Boise, and in Idaho Falls at Sandy Downs.
Essentially, lawmakers had been shown one type of machine and then were shocked when the betting parlors showed up with something entirely different.
In a slightly hilarious twist, Gov. Butch Otter made a foot-drag veto of the repeal, turning it in late — and thus having his veto overturned by the State Supreme Court.
AT ANY rate, the private interest slot-machine brigade is back for another bite of the apple, hoping to put an initiative on this year’s ballot that would, once again, legalize the “fake slots” that were shot down in 2015.
A coalition involving the ownership of Greyhound Park and Treasure Valley Racing has developed a website, printed brochures and sent armies of paid hustlers out to find more than 56,000 signatures — roughly the number they need to get on the ballot.
There are so many things wrong with this campaign:
1. The coalition’s top argument is that they hope to save horse racing in Idaho, which is nonsense.
2. Paid signature-hunters use this slogan: “We’re trying to make horse racing legal in Idaho.” But of course, it’s ALREADY legal.
3. And finally, those folks on the street clearly feel they’re under no obligation to tell the truth — or more likely, they don’t know it.
In yet another bizarre twist to the never-ending saga, a signature-seeker approached Rep. Ben Crane, R-Nampa, and intentionally or not, fed him the line about legalizing horse racing.
Crane was puzzled, then upset — to the point that he sponsored a bill this week that will seek to force anyone pitching an initiative to tell the truth, and make the actual wording available to any member of the public.
It’s too late for the bill to be debated this session, but it can be discussed prior to 2019 — and perhaps put into place.
Maybe something good will come from all of this. If history is any indicator, though, it will take a fight.
And then another one.
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Steve Cameron is a columnist for The Press.
Email: scameron@cdapress.com.
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Twitter: @BrandNewDayCDA