Supreme Court turns down gaming compact case

Tuesday, February 22, 2005  

The U.S. Supreme Court today refused to hear a challenge to Michigan's tribal-state compacts.

Taxpayers of Michigan Against Casinos (TOMAC) brought the suit after the state Legislature approved the compacts. The group, which has been fighting several tribes, said the compacts should be approved by a bill, rather than a resolution.

The Michigan Supreme Court disagreed in an August 2 decision. [PDF]. Approval of the compacts was not "legislation" but was merely "approval of valid contracts between two independent, sovereign entities," the court said.

TOMAC sought review of the decision but the Supreme Court declined without written comment. TOMAC still has a suit pending against a provision of the compact that allows the state governor to amend the compact without legislative approval.