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FEBRUARY 19, 2001

New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson on Friday said he will begin formal negotiations on a new, one-size-fits-all gaming compact with the state's tribes.

Johnson had been urged by state lawmakers to negotiate new gaming compacts with the tribes because of a pending lawsuit filed against them by Attorney General Patricia Madrid. She wants the tribes to make back payments under a 12 percent revenue sharing rate agreed to in 1997 compacts.

The tribes protested the rate, saying it was too high. A new proposal to limit the rate to 8 percent is being considered. Lawmakers last year turned down a compact which offered 7.75 percent rate.

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Tribal Casinos Back on Front Burner (The Albuquerque Journal 2/17)