|
 Indian tribes could see the Obama administration laying off of some restrictions when it comes to building casinos on land hundreds of miles away from their reservations. The new laws would likely bring a surge of new casino construction and development.
A Bush administration law is being re-evaluated by the Interior Department, which runs the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The law requires that casinos built off of Indian Reservation be within commuting distance of the reservation. Several tribes have turned to this opportunity as a way to ease financial troubles on their reservations. The economic benefits and potential job creation would help to supplement some of their lost revenue.
George Skibine, a deputy assistant secretary at the bureau, said in a recent interview that, "It's an important issue. It's a controversial issue and they're rethinking it." Skibine expects a decision will be made on whether to change the policy fairly soon.
Two governors who would most likely be on the boat with the plans are Democrat David Paterson of New York and Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger of California. Both have been in favor of other recent projects related to the issue.
Some are judging the proposal with criticism saying that it violates the spirit of Indian gaming law, while others are welcoming the plan. They are hoping that it will be viewed by the administration as a way to stimulate the economy without spending any tax dollars.
Around 20 tribes already have off reservation casino plans in the works and some have already been given the go ahead by lenders. All that is needed for some is approval from the Department.
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
