Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), the chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, is promising told more hearings on off-reservation gaming and regulation of the Indian gaming industry.

McCain has previously said tribes are seeking casino in areas never contemplated by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. At a hearing yesterday, he criticized a rider that allowed a California tribe to acquire land for an off-reservation casino in the Bay Area.

But after the hearing, he told members of the media that he is "sympathetic" to the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians. The tribe's 275 members are mostly poor and lack adequate housing and other services.

The tribe is the subject of S.113, a bill that would make it harder for the tribe to conduct gaming on land in San Pablo. The committee heard views on both sides of the issue.

Get the Story:
McCain blasts tribe over bill allowing San Pablo casino (The San Francisco Chronicle 4/6)
Senate panel wrestles with urban casino issues (The San Jose Mercury News 4/6)
Indians denounce Feinstein casino bill (The Sacramento Bee 4/6)
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Senators reconsider tribal dues (The Contra Costa Times 4/6)
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Backers, foes of urban casino meet at hearing (AP 4/6)
Bill confronting San Pablo casino draws fire in Senate
San Pablo bolsters its police force (The West County Times 4/6)
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