Small Oklahoma tribes back repeal of gaming bill

Friday, May 7, 2004  

Small Oklahoma tribes are reaching out to an Oklahoma lawmaker who is trying to repeal the state-tribal gaming compact bill.

The Sac and Fox Nation will meet with Rep. Forrest Claunch, a conservative Republican, to talk about the effort, The Native American Times reported. The tribe wants to mobilize voters for a statewide referendum on the compact.

Large tribes, notably the Chickasaw, Cherokee and Choctaw nations, supported the compact. They say it will clarify which casino machines are legal in the state. In exchange, they will share a portion of revenues from those machines.

Cherokee Chief Chad Smith told The Oklahoman that he believes the compact will pass with at least 65 percent of voter support if it ends up on the November ballot. "We'll see," says The Oklahoman, which supported the bill, in an editorial.

Get the Story:
Anti-gaming lawmaker invited to speak to tribes (The Native American Times 5/6)
Gaming backers banking on public (The Daily Oklahoman 5/7)
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