Post by Okwes on Aug 10, 2006 13:01:02 GMT -5
Putting a stop to 'reservation shopping'
www.insidebayarea.com/argus/oped/ci_4149930
<http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/oped/ci_4149930>
THE House of Representatives has joined colleagues in the Senate in an
effort to put a halt to the "reservation shopping" that has threatened
to get out of hand since Indian gambling became a lucrative national
phenomenon.
The House Resources Committee approved a bill last week authored by
Chairman Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, that would prevent tribes from building
off-reservation casinos. It would amend the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
of 1988, eliminating an exception that allows Indian tribes engaged in
gambling to shop for sites off land they own, with approval of the
Interior secretary and a state's governor.
The bill is consistent with the intent of California's voter-approved
law endorsing Indian gambling, as well as efforts in the Senate, pushed
by Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and John McCain, R-Ariz., to curb bids to
locate casinos in lucrative urban areas. Several were proposed in the
Bay Area.
Pombo said "reservation shopping" has resulted in tribes moving hundreds
of miles and across state lines to establish gambling houses.
"This is wrong," he said, noting that "it threatens both the future of
Native American economic development and the integrity of Indian tribal
sovereignty."
The passage of legislation limiting such off-reservation expansion is a
plus for communities where tribes have attempted to establish
<http://www.searchanything.co.uk/search?Keywords=car+insurance&type=insu\
rance&mnum=0000253411&siteid=0000709276> casinos against the will
of area residents and without paying for the infrastructure, social and
public safety problems that often accompany increased gambling.
There are now 408 Indian casinos nationally generating $22.6 billion per
year. About three dozen are off-reservation.
Pombo's bill would allow tribes to proceed with efforts to establish
off-reservation casinos if they submitted applications prior to March 7.
Newly recognized tribes without land, such as the Lytton Band of Pomo
Indians that owns the casino in San Pablo, would be allowed to seek
agreements with local communities that include tribes paying for
infrastructure and public safety costs.
Limits on "reservation shopping" are overdue. California voters assumed
� and the Indian leaders originally pushing for voter approval of
gambling vowed � that casinos would be restricted to land already
owned by the tribes. Buying off-reservation land for such establishments
should be prohibited or, at a minimum, subject to the approval of voters
in the communities and neighborhoods that would be directly impacted.
www.insidebayarea.com/argus/oped/ci_4149930
<http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/oped/ci_4149930>
THE House of Representatives has joined colleagues in the Senate in an
effort to put a halt to the "reservation shopping" that has threatened
to get out of hand since Indian gambling became a lucrative national
phenomenon.
The House Resources Committee approved a bill last week authored by
Chairman Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, that would prevent tribes from building
off-reservation casinos. It would amend the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
of 1988, eliminating an exception that allows Indian tribes engaged in
gambling to shop for sites off land they own, with approval of the
Interior secretary and a state's governor.
The bill is consistent with the intent of California's voter-approved
law endorsing Indian gambling, as well as efforts in the Senate, pushed
by Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and John McCain, R-Ariz., to curb bids to
locate casinos in lucrative urban areas. Several were proposed in the
Bay Area.
Pombo said "reservation shopping" has resulted in tribes moving hundreds
of miles and across state lines to establish gambling houses.
"This is wrong," he said, noting that "it threatens both the future of
Native American economic development and the integrity of Indian tribal
sovereignty."
The passage of legislation limiting such off-reservation expansion is a
plus for communities where tribes have attempted to establish
<http://www.searchanything.co.uk/search?Keywords=car+insurance&type=insu\
rance&mnum=0000253411&siteid=0000709276> casinos against the will
of area residents and without paying for the infrastructure, social and
public safety problems that often accompany increased gambling.
There are now 408 Indian casinos nationally generating $22.6 billion per
year. About three dozen are off-reservation.
Pombo's bill would allow tribes to proceed with efforts to establish
off-reservation casinos if they submitted applications prior to March 7.
Newly recognized tribes without land, such as the Lytton Band of Pomo
Indians that owns the casino in San Pablo, would be allowed to seek
agreements with local communities that include tribes paying for
infrastructure and public safety costs.
Limits on "reservation shopping" are overdue. California voters assumed
� and the Indian leaders originally pushing for voter approval of
gambling vowed � that casinos would be restricted to land already
owned by the tribes. Buying off-reservation land for such establishments
should be prohibited or, at a minimum, subject to the approval of voters
in the communities and neighborhoods that would be directly impacted.