Opinion ID: 852257
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Effect of Section 302

Text: In interpreting a statute, our goal is to determine and give effect to the General Assembly's intent. Where the statute is unambiguous, the Court will read words and phrases for their plain and ordinary meaning. Porter Dev., LLC v. First Nat. Bank of Valparaiso, 866 N.E.2d 775 (Ind.2007). When a statute is clear, courts do not impose other constructions upon it. Huffman v. Office of Envtl. Adjudication, 811 N.E.2d 806 (Ind.2004). Viewed in the light of these canons of construction, Section 302 is fairly straightforward. It authorizes the City to make changes to the local agreements which sought to facilitate economic development in East Chicago. The statute says this power may be exercised unilaterally by the City. This idea is obviously at odds with the idea of an agreement between the City and the licensees, but it is consistent with our earlier declaration that even without Section 302, the City was free to change its mind about how gaming resources might best foster economic development and seek the Gaming Commission's concurrence with its altered plans. The original licensee's successors seem not to have been too concerned about where the 3.75% was deployed, playing something like the role of an interpleader who regards the economic development payments simply as a cost of doing business, while largely content to leave it to the government to decide on the best strategy for advancing local economic development. Section 302 does not by its terms even purport to alter the Commission's regulatory authority. The flow of funds for economic development are subject to any terms and conditions in the license issued by the Commission. The Commission incorporated various arrangements into the East Chicago gaming license on advice of the city government and other stakeholders and interested citizens. They may be revised by the Commission, with or without Section 302. In light of the foregoing conclusions, we see no impairment of contractual rights presenting a colorable alarm under the applicable state or federal provisions. U.S. CONST. art. I, § 10 and IND. CONST. art. 1, § 24.