Wednesday, July 26, 2006

As reported by the Arizona Republic: "An Indian gaming reform bill sponsored
by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that would bar tribes from establishing
casinos off of their reservations has hit a snag, with more than a
half-dozen senators putting a "hold" on the legislation. "McCain's bill (SB
2078) was a response to the scandals involving convicted former lobbyist
Jack Abramoff's nefarious dealings with tribes. The proposed legislation
addresses instances in which tribes work with developers to locate casinos
off ancestral lands, where developers would otherwise be restricted from
developing casinos. "The Senate Indian Affairs Committee, headed by McCain,
already has approved the legislation. But other senators, some anonymously,
are now seeking to block the bill, which would impose the strictest
regulations on Indian gaming since Congress approved the 1988 Indian Gaming
Regulatory Act. That act opened the door to the flood of tribal casinos.
"McCain needs to find 60 Senate votes to overcome the opposition. That would
procedurally release the bill from the holds placed by senators trying to
block it. ".Only four tribes nationally have off-reservation casinos. But
the exemption would protect more than 44 off-reservation applications filed
prior to the deadline, including three by Arizona-based Indian tribes."