And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 07:56:43 -0600
From: "John Berry"<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subj: (FWD)Indian News 12-13-98
Roger Iron Cloud
FirstNations Listserv
202.358.3252
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Legislature approves compacts for tribal casinos
c. Associated Press
By GRETA GUEST
12-11-98
LANSING, Mich. (AP) Republican Gov. John Engler won approval for four
tribal casinos in the state Legislature Thursday by a nose.
Engler-negotiated compacts finally passed the state House 48-47 on
Thursday, followed by a 21-17 vote in the Senate early Friday.
Engler's strategy to get legislative ratification of the compacts has
included frequent meetings with House Republicans who cast `no' votes on
Tuesday and Wednesday. Few of them changed their votes, but some agreed to
not vote at all by Thursday.
Engler spokesman John Truscott said his boss succeeded by persuading
members that voting for the compacts was the only way to slow down, if not
stop, the expansion of gambling in Michigan.
"He realized it wasn't an easy decision for people to make," Truscott
said. "It is controversial for people who are fundamentally opposed to
gambling, and the expansion of gambling ... which is the same position as
the governor's."
But those who voted against the compacts said the governor's lobbying
was more effective than his logic.
"It's hard to beat a $31 billion PAC (political action committee)," said
Rep. Kirk Profit, D-Ypsilanti, referring to the state budget controlled
largely by Engler. "It shows the level of intensity they have for this
thing. Wouldn't it be nice if this same level of intensity was applied to
mental health, education, taxes?"
Rep. Andrew Raczkowski, R-Farmington Hills, who will be House Majority
Floor Leader next session, was absent from the floor while voting occurred.
He had said he opposed the expansion of casino gaming but didn't want the
state to end up in court. He ended up not casting a vote.
Engler has argued that without the compacts, the tribes would get
approval from the federal government, leaving the state with no control
over the number of casinos per reservation and without a portion of
revenues.
The new casinos would be located in New Buffalo, Mackinaw City, Battle
Creek and Manistee.
On each day of negotiations, Engler increased his promises to sway House
votes in favor of the compacts. He pledged not to negotiate further
compacts if these four are accepted, and he said he would lobby Congress
to gain changes in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
The 1988 federal law requires tribes and states to negotiate gaming
compacts with approval from the governor and Legislature. Short of that,
tribes can pursue approval from the federal government with none of the
rules that the state may want to impose.
Unlike the seven Indian gaming compacts approved in 1993 allowing 14
casinos to open in Michigan the four new compacts will limit the tribes
to one casino per reservation.
The compacts allow the state 8 percent of slot machine revenues; 2
percent of that cut goes to local governmental units.
Some House members were disturbed by the amount of lobbying outside and
inside the chamber. Some Republicans said they received calls on their
private, unlisted House telephone numbers from Marian Ilitch, urging a
vote in favor of the compacts.
Ms. Ilitch and several others have an interest in one Detroit casino and
in the planned Indian-run casino in Manistee. She could not be reached for
comment Thursday.
Rep. Penny Crissman, R-Rochester, voted no on Wednesday and earlier
Thursday, changed to a `not voting,' which is neutral. She said she
received a call from Ms. Ilitch on Wednesday that angered her so much she
planned to vote against the compacts.
"She was appealing to my sense of humanity, saying how these other
tribes have been helped," Crissman said. "I told her I'm just tired of the
expansion of Indian gaming."
Crissman was hopeful that because the compacts prohibit casinos from
opening within 150 miles of Detroit, none could open in Oakland County.
The tribes seeking the compacts are the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi
Indians, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, the Little River
Band of Ottawa Indians and the Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians.
Tribal officials estimated the four new compacts would mean $215 million
in construction and support 2,500 construction jobs. Once operational,
they also would create 3,400 new jobs and bring in $400 million in new
revenues.
Mike Malik, a developer with a management agreement with the Little
River Band of Ottawa Indians, said it will give the four communities a
chance to prosper.
"I think it's a great opportunity for them and their communities," he
said. "That's the great thing about tribes they put the money back into
the communities they come from."
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