Rival casino groups raised about $13 million last month from Oklahoma tribes battling over a constitutional amendment in Arkansas that could alter the future of a casino in Pope County.
Cherokee Nation Businesses and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma are fighting over an amendment that would revoke the Cherokees’ casino license in Pope County. The amendment would also reduce the maximum number of casinos in the state to three. Any additional casinos would have to be approved statewide by a constitutional amendment and by voters in the counties where they would be located.
It’s all quite confusing. But essentially, a “No” vote would mean a casino slated for Pope County can proceed as planned. A “Yes” vote would nix the already approved Cherokee-owned casino.
The Cherokee Nation Businesses of Catoosa, Oklahoma, gave $8.8 million in September to Investing in Arkansas, a ballot question committee opposed to the amendment (i.e., in favor of the already planned and approved casino moving forward). The September haul raised the Cherokees’ total contributions to the committee to $11.6 million. The group reported having about $1.8 million on hand at the end of September, according to documents filed with the Arkansas Ethics Commission.
The Cherokees also contributed $776,500 to Arkansas Canvassing Compliance Committee, another ballot question committee opposed to the amendment. The group had raised $776,500 and reported a balance of $101,974 at the end of last month.
Arkansas Canvassing Compliance Committee has challenged the amendment in a case before the Arkansas Supreme Court. In a ruling earlier this week, the Arkansas Supreme Court rejected one of the group’s arguments but still must rule on a challenge to the amendment’s popular name and ballot title.
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma contributed $3.2 million last month to Local Voters in Charge, the sponsor of the amendment that would tank the Cherokees’ plan to put up a casino in Pope County. The Choctaws have contributed a total of $8.8 million to the cause. The group reported having $723,128 on hand at the end of September.
Money is still changing hands to support, and oppose, an amendment that would expand the state medical marijuana program.
Arkansans for Patient Access, the sponsor of the amendment, raised $69,999 last month, bringing its total contributions to a little more than $2 million. The group reported having a balance of $197,744 at the end of the month.
In September, Secretary of State John Thurston said the medical marijuana amendment fell 2,664 signatures short of the number needed to make the ballot. Arkansans for Patient Access said Thurston had refused to count about 18,000 signatures that Thurston said were invalid because the sponsor had allowed representatives of a canvassing company to sign off on certain documents related to paid canvassers. Arkansans for Patient Access took the matter to the Arkansas Supreme Court and is awaiting a ruling.
Good Day Farm dispensaries in Hensley, Texarkana, Monticello, Van Buren and Little Rock made up all of the contributions to Arkansans for Patient Access last month.
Stronger Arkansas, a group opposed the marijuana amendment, reported no contributions last month. The group had raised a total of $475,000 and reported a balance of $$47,989 at the end of September. Stronger Arkansas, formed by associates of Gov. Sarah Sanders, opposes amendments related to marijuana, abortion and education. A Bismarck woman filed an ethics complaint against the group last month amid questions about some of the the group’s financial transactions.
Protect Arkansas Kids, another group opposed to the marijuana amendment, reported raising $15,000 last month, all from Little Rock chicken magnate Ron Cameron. Protect Arkansas Kids has raised a total of $25,000 and reported having $15,000 on hand at the end of last month. Protect Arkansas Kids is supported by national anti-marijuana organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana and has intervened in the Supreme Court case to challenge the amendment’s popular name and ballot title.
A committee the Arkansas Family Council formed to oppose the marijuana amendment reported no donations last month. The group has raised $218,715 and reported having $54,889 on hand at the end of September.
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