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Oregon governor raises idea of casino

PORTLAND, Oregon -- As reported by The Oregonian: "When Gov. Ted Kulongoski went rambling outside the box in a recent interview with The Oregonian's Harry Esteve, the governor offered that some once-unthinkable proposals might be in play if Oregon faces unprecedented cuts in schools and other essential services.

"He offered one startling example: A state-owned 'full service' casino on the ground floor of a new 2,000-room hotel next to the Oregon Convention Center in downtown Portland. The state could, the governor added, 'dedicate all the profits -- 100 percent -- to schools.'

"Kulongoski's staff winced when the governor blurted out the casino idea, and Kulongoski quickly conceded that Portland leaders probably wouldn't care much for the proposal. But his point, I gather, was that things may very well get bad enough in this state that almost anything, even a massive state-owned casino in the heart of Portland, might be needed to keep schools open.

"With the state facing a $4 billion-plus budget deficit and lawmakers awaiting a crucial revenue forecast in mid-May, this is the moment to play a dark game of what-if in Oregon. Kulongoski did more in his interview than wonder aloud about a casino; he also said that if things get bad enough Oregonians may have to reconsider such political untouchables as the Measure 5 property tax limitation and the Measure 11 mandatory sentences for violent crimes..."

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