And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 00:02:22 EST To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Senate OKs Cutback in Casino Fee Revenue-Sharing Scale Would Average 10 Percent By Wren Propp Journal Capitol Bureau SANTA FE -- The Senate narrowly approved a bill Monday to lower the revenue-sharing percentage Indian casinos are supposed to pay to the state from slot machine proceeds. The Senate approved the bill, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Manny Aragon, on a 21-19 vote and sent it to the House. The measure would lower the revenue-sharing percentage the tribes pay from 16 percent annually to an average 10 percent. Aragon, a Democrat from Albuquerque, told senators his bill would require casino-operating tribes to take responsibility for their revenue payments. The bill would bar tribes that owe money to the state under the current 16 percent revenue-sharing requirement, agreed to in 1997 state-tribal compacts, from signing new agreements with the lower amount. "We need to bring stability and cooperation, and without it, this goes away," Aragon said. He referred to another provision of his bill, which would repeal legalized gambling in New Mexico if all tribes still owing money under the 16 percent revenue-sharing requirement fail to pay up before Jan. 1. Aragon's bill would create a graduated payment schedule based on the tribal casinos' annual net win on slot machines. Each quarter, the tribes would pay 4 percent on the first $6 million of annual net win, 8 percent on the net win between $6 million and $12 million and 12 percent on the net win above $12 million. The bill, if passed by the House and signed by Gov. Gary Johnson, would generate about $32 million annually for the state from gambling revenue. That's about the same amount of money the state is getting now, but the Jicarilla Apache and the Mescalero Apache tribes have refused to pay the 16 percent and regulatory fees. Other tribes are paying less than 16 percent. Aragon's bill also would reduce the regulatory fees the tribes are required to pay. Each tribe would pay $500 per year per slot machine under his plan. Now the tribes are required to pay $6,250 per casino, $300 per slot machine and $750 per gaming table, on a quarterly basis. Many New Mexico tribes are likely to consider the Senate's approval of Aragon's bill a setback, a lobbyist for two tribes said. The Senate on Monday voted down a bill, supported by the tribes, that would have set the revenue-sharing requirement at an average 8 percent. "(Aragon's bill) is going to give them some relief, but it wasn't what the tribes wanted," said Richard Hughes, who lobbies for Santa Ana and Santa Clara pueblos. Hughes said a bigger problem is looming between the state and the 11 tribes with casinos. If lawmakers pass no measure to lower the revenue sharing, some tribes who are paying currently might stop paying and go into arbitration. <SNIPPED> Debate in the Senate on Monday centered on a bill promoted by Sen. Ben Altamirano, D-Silver City, that would have cut the amount of money the state receives from the tribes to $22 million or less. Republicans, and a few Democrats, came out in force against the measure, which died with 13 voting for it and 25 against. Sen. Billy McKibben, R-Hobbs, said 16 percent was approved in 1997 because many lawmakers wouldn't accept anything lower. "That was the only way you could convince certain lawmakers to vote for it," McKibben said. Other Republicans argued Monday that revenue sharing is a tax and that Altamirano's bill would allow Indian tribes to pay back taxes without paying any penalties. Sen. Leonard Tsosie, D-Crownpoint, said that, up until the Senate debate Monday, most lawmakers had tried not to refer to revenue sharing as a tax, which is prohibited under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. "We adopted an illegal measure all along," Tsosie said, reiterating a widespread view among New Mexico gambling tribes about revenue sharing. http://www.abqjournal.com/news/xgr99/1legis02-23.htm &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
