User:Cynuit/sandbox/Idaho Proposition 1 (2018)
Idaho Proposition 1 (2018)
[edit]Idaho Proposition 1 (2018) is a ballot initiative titled the "Save Horse Racing in Idaho Act"[1].Cynuit (talk) 02:16, 10 September 2018 (UTC) The primary purpose of the ballot initiative is to allow a limited number of racetracks in the state to again operate gaming terminals. The language contained within the ballot initiative is the same as what was previously passed into Idaho law in 2013 by the state legislature. The 2013 law was repealed in 2015 to appease tribal casino representatives who feared the legalized historical racing terminals could negatively impact their casino revenues[cite].
If passed by voters, Idaho Prop 1 (2018) will enable Historical Horse Racing terminals to again be operated at a limited number of horse racing tracks in the State of Idaho that also conduct a minimum number of live horse races[1]. Eligible racing facilities that qualify to operate Historical Racing Terminals would be regulated by a division of the Idaho State Police known as the Idaho State Racing Commission[2].
Historical Horse Racing was legalized by the Idaho Legislature in 2013. Two years later, Tribal Casino representatives introduced Senate Bill 1011[cite] as part of an effort to repeal the 2013 law that allowed Historical Horse Racing in the state. The Idaho State Legislature passed Senate Bill 1011, but Governor Otter vetoed the bill[cite]. Tribal casino interests then sued the State of Idaho arguing that the Governor's veto was not timely[cite]. The Idaho Supreme Court agreed with the Tribal Casino representatives, and Senate Bill 1011 became law[cite].
Tribal Political Action Committee
[edit]Idaho United Against Prop 1
[edit]Idaho United Against Prop 1 is a Political Action Committee (PAC) that opposes Idaho Proposition 1. The PAC Chairman a Mormon member of the Idaho State Senate, and the PAC Treasurer is the Chairman of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe[cite].
This PAC lists a number of supporters on its website that are also beneficiaries of regular monetary contributions made by tribal casino interests.
Funding for Idaho United Against Prop 1 PAC
[edit]Campaign finance reporting for this PAC is not required to be reported until October 10th, 2018. However, the Treasurer for the PAC is the Chairman of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe (cite), which also operates the largest indian casino in the State of Idaho (cite).
Allegations of Voter Intimidation
[edit]In March of 2018, Treasure Valley Racing alleged "voter intimidation" by tribal casino interests while attempting to gather enough signatures to place the Save Idaho Horse Racing initiative on the November 2018 ballot in Idaho. A political action committee (PAC) tied to the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Casino and listed with the Idaho Secretary of State's Office as "The North Idaho Voter Project"[3] hired people to discourage people from signing the petition to place Prop 1 on the ballot. Heather Keen and Tyrel Stevenson are listed as Chair and Treasurer for the PAC on the Idaho Secretary of State's website[4]. Both Keen and Stevenson are employees of the the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, which operates the Coeur d'Alene Casino in Worley, Idaho[5].
Supporters
[edit]Treasure Valley Racing, LLC.
[edit]Treasure Valley Racing, LLC (TVR) is an Idaho company that most recently conducted horse races at the ADA County-owned Les Bois Park in Garden City, Idaho. Garden City is located within the Boise, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and borders the city of Boise, Idaho.
Signature Gathering Controversy
[edit]In March of 2018, TVR alleged "voter intimidation" by tribal casino interests while attempting to gather enough signatures to place the Save Idaho Horse Racing initiative on the November 2018 ballot in Idaho. A political action committee (PAC) tied to the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Casino and listed with the Idaho Secretary of State's Office as "The North Idaho Voter Project"[3] hired people to discourage people from signing the petition to place Prop 1 on the ballot. Heather Keen and Tyrel Stevenson are listed as Chair and Treasurer for the PAC on the Idaho Secretary of State's website[4]. Both Keen and Stevenson are employees of the the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, which operates the Coeur d'Alene Casino in Worley, Idaho[5].
Notes & tidbits
[edit]In legislative committees and in the press, [some] alleged Tribal Casinos were merely attempting to legislate a monopoly on gambling in the state. Tribal Casino representatives claimed Historical Horse Racing was not constitutional.
Idaho voters will vote on Prop 1 during the 2018 Idaho General Election, which is November 6th, 2018 according the Idaho Secretary of State's Election Calendar[6]. The
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Idaho Secretary of State 2018 Proposed Ballot Initiatives".
- ^ "Title 54, Chapter 25, Idaho Code".
- ^ a b "AP Press".
- ^ a b "ID SOS Committee Treasurer List for 2018".
- ^ a b "Tribe chooses Stevenson as new legislative director".
- ^ "Idaho Secretary Of State Elections - 2018 Primary and General Election Calendar".