And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: From: "Victor Rocha" House rejects proposal to limit Babbitt powers http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/1999/Jul-16-Fri-1999/business/11571274.html The House rejects an amendment to forbid Bruce Babbitt from OK'ing gaming compacts for tribes. By Tony Batt Donrey Washington Bureau WASHINGTON -- Gambling's leading critic in Congress found himself on the same side as Nevada casino supporters this week in a U.S. House debate on Indian gaming. But even the assistance of Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., wasn't enough to pass an amendment that would have prohibited Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt from approving gaming compacts for tribes unable to negotiate agreements with host states. In a vote close to midnight Wednesday, the House decided 217-205 to reject the amendment, which was sponsored by Reps. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., and Bob Barr, R-Ga. When the dust settled after the vote, Babbitt had retained authority to approve Indian casinos. But he has said he will not do so until a federal court in Florida rules on the controversy. During debate, Wolf said allowing Babbitt to break gaming impasses in favor of tribes will lead to the expansion of gambling. He brandished the report released last month by the National Gambling Impact Study Commission to back his argument. "The commission said, and I quote, policy-makers at every level may wish to impose an explicit moratorium on gambling expansion because it's running rampant in the country," Wolf said. Reps. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., came at the issue differently but argued for the same result. Berkley noted that the federal gambling study commission came out against giving the interior secretary authority to approve Indian gaming compacts. "After a two-year, exhaustive study, (the commission) determined that Indian gaming was poorly regulated throughout this country and in many cases, out of control," Berkley said. Gibbons said the amendment would help preserve states' rights. "Currently, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act allows your governor to negotiate with Indian tribes regarding the construction of Indian casinos on reservations," Gibbons said. "Bruce Babbitt wants to strip your governor of that authority." But opponents of the amendment called it an infringement on tribal sovereignty and said states should not have the power to block Indian casinos simply by refusing to negotiate. "This is a tremendous win for Indian country," said Jacob Coin, executive director of the National Indian Gaming Association. "This matter seems to come up as a matter of tradition in the Senate." Coin was referring to a similar measure offered earlier this year by Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo, and backed by Nevada's senators. The Senate amendment failed after Babbitt promised not to approve compacts before a federal court in Florida decides if he has that authority. Reprinted under the Fair Use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ UPDATES: CAMP JUSTICE http://shell.webbernet.net/~ishgooda/oglala/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
