Yes on Measure 76

Oregonians decided long ago that the outdoors, including parks, are a vital part of what makes our state special.

Approving Measure 76 on the Nov. 2 ballot solidifies that commitment, and we recommend a “yes” vote.

Measure 76 would continue the system in place since 1999, by which 15 percent of Oregon Lottery revenue — an estimated $87 million next year — goes to parks and natural resources.

The latter category includes protecting habitat for wildlife, a crucial thing for Baker County, where hunting and fishing are important economic engines.

More than two-thirds of voters approved a measure in 1998 that allocated Lottery money. It’s time to make that distribution permanent.