Measure To Vote On Osage River Gambling Facility Falls Short

A measure calling for a statewide vote on whether an excursion gambling facility could be located on the Osage River is dead in the water.

Lake area representative Rocky Miller, sponsor of HJR-87, says delays in the legislative session due to the COVID-19 pandemic did not allow the measure to finish the process.

Miller pre-filed the bill in January and it progressed as far as being placed on the informal calendar two weeks ago but, with the session ending yesterday (Friday), the process went unfinished through the legislative route.

Miller, who leaves office due to term limits, believes that a casino will, ultimately, end up on the Osage River by going through the process of an initiative petition.

A group going by the name of “Osage River Gaming” has already been very active and vocal in their plans to introduce such a petition now that the legislative route failed.