Tribal Off-Reservation Gambling
Dangerous Off-Reservation Gambling Bills Defeated Congressional Members of the House recently defeated H.R. 2176 and H.R. 4115, two bills proposed by Michigan tribes that could have opened the floodgates for off-reservation gambling.
[6-27-2008]
Good News: Off-Reservation Gambling Bill(s) Defeated In House
H.R. 4115 and H.R. 2176, two "land swap" [off-reservation] gambling bills that would authorize an unprecedented expansion of gambling off-reservation, were rolled into one bill under H.R. 2176, and the bill was defeated by a vote of 121 – 298.
See Focus on the Family's letter urging House Representatives to oppose this dangerous legislation (H.R. 2176 / H.R. 4115)
Browse the list of House Representatives who voted in FAVOR of these off-reservation gambling bills. We urge you to contact these Representatives and ask them not to support future off-reservation gambling bills.
Also, look up all House Representatives and see how much tribal gambling money House Members have received in 2008 (Center for Responsive Politics Web site). You can also see how much tribal gambling money has been given to Senators in 2008.
Note that the sponsors and co-sponsors of H.R. 2176 and H.R. 4115 are listed as having received tribal gambling money in 2008:
- Rep. Stupak [MI-1] - Sponsor of HR 2176 received - $9,100 in tribal gambling money ($11,500 from all gambling interests)
- Rep. P. Kennedy [RI-1] - Co-sponsor HR 2176 - $69,050 ($71,050 from all gambling interests)
- Rep. C. Miller [MI-10] - Co-sponsor HR 2176 - (not mentioned)
____________
- Rep. Dingell [MI-15] - Sponsor of HR 4115 received - $2,300 ($7,300 from all gambling interests)
- Rep. Stupack [MI-1] - Co-sponsor HR 4115 - $9,100 ($11,500 from all gambling interests)
CONTACT: House Members Who Voted in Favor of Off-Reservation Gambling (121): HR 2176 / HR 4115
[Vote: 96 Democrat, 25 Republican]
|
Abercrombie |
Gonzalez |
Moore (KS) |
[6-24-2008 - Archived]
Danger: H.R. 2176 and H.R. 4115
Two Michigan tribes could set a dangerous federal precedent, opening the floodgates to off-reservation casinos
Citizens: urge your Congressional House Members to Oppose H.R. 2176 and H.R. 4115. These bills not only circumvent IGRA and the Indian gambling review process at the DOI, they would authorize the largest expansion of off-reservation gambling in the history of Indian gambling. A dangerous precedent would be created if Congress were to approve off-reservation Indian gambling on casinos located over 350 miles from their Tribal lands. The Judiciary Committee reviewed both bills and voted unanimously to oppose them. Let's urge House Members to do the same.
Consider the following facts:
- Congress has never authorized an off-reservation Indian casino
- The land claims are invalid
- The Department of Interior opposes these bills
- These two Michigan tribes are violating state-gambling-approval legislation passed in 2004
Bill Text/Status/Information:
Take Action:
Contact House Representatives today and express your opposition to H.R. 2176 and H.R. 4115! These bills will be brought to the House floor during the week of June 23rd.
Find and contact your House Representatives (fax, phone and/or e-mail)
CALL: (202) 224-3121
Talking Points:
Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. Representative,
I'm urging you to oppose two very dangerous tribal, off-reservation gambling bills: H.R. 2176 and H.R. 4115
Two Michigan tribes are attempting to circumvent the federal review and approval process by going directly to Congress. If these two bills are approved, the floodgates for other tribes to do likewise will be blown wide open. Congress would be flooded with proposals to exploit this new casino loophole.
- These bills circumvent IGRA and the Indian gambling review process at the Department of the Interior
___________________________________________________________________
[1-30-2008 Archived]
Thank Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne
Taking a stand against off-reservation casinos takes a man of courage
Department of the Interior Secretary, Dirk Kempthorne, recently took a stance against off-reservation gambling applications that were too far from the tribe's proposed casino. Focus on the Family, and other pro-family groups, have been asking him to do this since he took office. Secretary Kempthorne listened and understood our plight to defend families and property owners from federal-tribal impositions, and he took a courageous stand against off-reservation casinos.
One look at the headlines and you'll see that Sec. Kempthorne is taking a lot of heat from gambling tribes for this important decision. Focus on the Family is urging citizens and groups affected by off-reservation casinos to send the Secretary a note of thanks through the mail, by phone, by fax or via e-mail.
"We have established that nearly 10 percent of the casinos operating today are operating on land that was not in trust as of 1988."-Rep. Richard Pombo
38 casinos—out of the 405 in operation—are located on newly acquired trust lands (at time of hearing).
[Oversight hearing on H.R. 4893, testimony of Rep. Richard Pombo, 17 March 2005.]
Contact Secretary Kempthorne Today
Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary of the Department of the Interior
Web site: http://www.doi.gov/welcome.htm
Call 202-208-3100
Fax 202-208-5048.
E-mail: webteam@ios.doi.gov
More Informaiton:
- Off-Reservation Gambling Policy (DOI, January 3, 2008)
- Kempthorne Brought Major Shift on Off-Reservation Gaming (January 30, 2008)
- Indian Gambling Fact Sheet - Focus on the Family
ARCHIVED TAKE-ACTION ARTICLE BELOW:
Concerned citizens and community leaders from New York's Sullivan County and citizens from Wisconsin, who are also experiencing the challenge of off-reservation gambling, met with the Department of the Interior on March 22, 2007.
Why? Citizens are angry. New York residents don't want a tribe with a long criminal history building a casino 400 miles off their reservation in the Catskill Mountains. Wisconsin has 11 tribes operating 18 casinos (plus six ancillary sites) with more than 15,000 video slot machines - seven of Wisconsin's tribes are looking to expand gambling off their reservations and across state borders.
New York and Wisconsin citizens are outraged over a number if tribal gambling issues, but they are especially frustrated about the federal government's lack of discretion concerning off-reservation casinos. The St. Regis Mohawk off-reservation-casino decision will set a new precedent for other tribes during Kempthorne's term as Secretary of the Interior.
Secretary Dirk Kempthorne inherited a tangled mess from his predecessors. Now, a monumental decision awaits its fate in Kempthorne's court. Will he approve an off-reservation casino in New York for the St. Regis Mohawks, opening the floodgates for more off-reservation casinos? Or will Kempthorne remain opposed to off-reservation casinos, similar to his stance as Governor of Idaho?
Political pressure from within the Department of the Interior, specifically the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) - an arm of the Interior Department that's been accused of nepotism and corruption – is pressuring the Secretary to approve New York's off-reservation casino. But Secretary Kempthorne realizes that cracking the door open for one tribe would set a precedent for other tribes to do likewise; thus, creating a flood of off-reservation casino requests.
Secretary Kempthorne has little to risk if he does not open the door to off-reservation gambling and much to risk if he approves the casino. During his governorship in Idaho, Kempthorne stood firmly against off-reservation gambling. Will he be able to endure the constant assault from the tribal gambling lobby within the BIA and Department of the Interior? Millions of families are counting on Kempthorne to to stand firm.
Meanwhile, Sullivan County's Monticello Raceway, one of many dying pari-mutuel operations, is slated to host 3,500 slot machines – 90 minutes from New York City. The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe (reservation located in Franklin County) will take at least 75 percent of the revenues, while sending up to 25 percent of casino revenues into New York State's General Fund. Empire Resorts Inc. is backing the tribe's off-reservation casino effort. The last signature needed is Secretary Kempthorne's.
This is not about a "landless tribe," as described in Section 20 of the poorly written Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). It's about location and money. But is exploiting IGRA's original intent and jeopardizing other tribes' future sovereignty ethical or legal? Not to mention, tribal casinos are not subject to a legislative or citizen vote. Your voice and your opinions do not affect whether - or where - tribal casinos are built.
In 2005, Sen. Richard Pombo found at least 38 Indian casinos - out of the 405 in operation - were off-reservation casinos or located on former non-reservation land that was taken into trust for tribes. Join other Americans in expressing your concern over gambling tribes' abuse of current laws and the proliferation of off-reservation casinos.
Take Action:
You can make a difference, but only if leaders hear your voice. Act today!
Important Officials to Contact:
Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary of the Department of the Interior (most important)
Web site: http://www.doi.gov/welcome.htm
Call 202-208-3100
Fax 202-208-5048.
E-mail: webteam@ios.doi.gov
________________________________
George Skibine, Deputy Assistant Secretary
Office of Indian Gaming Management
Department of the Interior
Phone: 202-219–4066
Fax: 202-273-3153
E-mail: george_skibine@ios.doi.gov
________________________________
Sen. Byron L. Dorgan
Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee
Phone: 202-224-2551
Fax: 202-224-1193
E-mail: senator@dorgan.senate.gov
________________________________
Sen. Craig Thomas
Vice Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee
Phone: 202-224-6441
Fax: 202-224-1724
E-mail: http://thomas.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home
________________________________
Sen. Charles E. Schumer - (pushing hard to approve off-reservation casino ... express your opinion)
Phone: 202-224-6542
Fax: 202-228-3027
E-mail: http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/contact/webform.cfm
________________________________
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton
Phone: 202-224-4451
Fax: 202-228-0282,
E-mail: http://clinton.senate.gov/contact/webform.cfm
________________________________
Gov. Elliot Spitzer (Express concern for his decision and future decisions about tribal casinos)
Phone: 518-474-8390
Fax: 518-474-1513
E-mail: http://161.11.121.121/govemail
________________________________
Fight gambling expansion in New York, find and join local or state coalitions:
Begin by contacting Joel S. Rose, Chairperson of the Coalition Against Gambling in New York. He also helps operate Citizens Against Casino Gambling in Erie County (716-440-8126).
More Information:
- Pataki Gambling On Our Safety [Long Island Press, 16 November 2006]
- Drug Traffickers Find Haven in Shadows of Indian Country [New York Times, 19 February 2006]
- Exclusive interview with Chuck Schumer on Monticello casino [Times Herald-Record,18 March 2007] ... With dozens of off-reservation applications pending, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne is worried that if he approves one casino in Sullivan County, he might have to approve the casinos in Wisconsin, California and elsewhere…. In California, there are 14 off-reservation applications before the Bureau of Indian Affairs. California already has more than 50 Indian gaming casinos, making it a gambling mecca second only to Nevada…. Chuck Schumer: "We've spoken three times [with Sec. of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne]. I do intend to talk with him in person. I've asked to have a face-to-face meeting, to gauge his body language. He says, 'How do I allow for this one casino?' I've told all the casino people that we'll try to find the way this one can be approved. Maybe a specific exception, so that he isn't obligated to approve all the off-site casinos that come before him…. See if we can find some legal reason. Maybe because it's a small amount of land or that it's within the same state. Who knows? … We're going to do everything we can to get this passed now." …
- Schumer pushes for six-lane Route 17 [Times Herald-Record, 19 March 2007] "… Jeffrey Zupan, a senior fellow at the Manhattan-based Regional Plan Association suggested adding more lanes to Route 17 ... stick the casino operators with the bill…. 'They are causing the problem,' Zupan said. 'Therefore, they should pay.'"
- Interior Department Letter from Jim Cason to St. Regis Mohawk Tribe (December 21, 2006)
- Indian Gambling Fact Sheet
- Interior Department wary of off-reservation gaming (February 15, 2007)
- BIA continues work on gaming land regulation (12/04/2006)
- Congress Considers Modifying Indian Gambling Law
- CitizenLink: Representative Calls for Gambling Moratorium
- Press Release: Focus on the Family today announced its support for the revision of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) – the law governing the federal regulation and oversight of tribal gaming (10/07/2005).
- CitizenLink: Q & A: Congress Considers Modifying Indian Gambling Law - Elaine Willman, Chair of the Citizens Equal Rights Alliance (CERA) and author of "Going to Pieces: The Dismantling of the United States of America" discusses current and proposed laws on Indian Gambling.
- Tribal-State Gaming Compacts (IGRA, 25 USC)
- Interesting Items Concerning the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) [See pp. 153-165] … it should be noted that SRMT is unique among the tribes studied … Because the State of New York never ceded any land to the federal government following ratification of the tribe's constitution, the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation has never been federal territory. Instead, New York State granted its portion of the land to SRMT in 1796 under a treaty signed with the Six Nations Confederacy. As a result, New York State has a trust responsibility with the tribe and not the federal government, unlike all other tribes in the study. Aside from the tribe’s own revenue-generating activities, SRMT primarily relies on state funding rather than federal funds, which also sets it apart from the other tribes that were studied….
- Historical background on the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe
- Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
"'Over 1,000 land in trust applications from tribes and individual Indians are currently pending,' said Robin Nazarro, the director of natural resources and Environment at the GAO. That's up from the 'hundreds' a BIA official told a Senate committee back in May 2005."
- Indianz.com, "Land-into-trust requests fall into BIA's 'black hole,'" 21 February 2007.
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