"We all know that Indian gaming has not been the panacea for all that ails tribal economies. In 2008, Indian communities still have large pockets of poverty, joblessness and economic stagnation, and these problems are preventing Native people from achieving their full potential.

We think that the candidate with a clear-eyed blueprint for economic development in Indian country is John McCain. We believe this because of his long record on these important issues.

John McCain understands that tribal governments know the real needs of the membership and routinely outperform the federal agencies when it comes to program management and delivery of housing, health, roads and other services. That’s why McCain has been the strongest supporter of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act and the Tribal Self-Governance Act.

You already know that Sen. McCain co-authored the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and has continually sought to strengthen the regulatory aspect of Indian gaming to preserve it as a viable option for those tribes that choose to conduct gaming on their own lands.

But you may not know that John McCain has a long record of supporting tribal economies and has historically pushed for legislation which increases the participation of tribes in the American economy. Here are several examples."

Get the Story:
Aurene Martin and Paul Moorehead: McCain ‘clear-eyed’ on Indian development (Indian Country Today 10/23)

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