McCain's IGRA amendments won't help Texas tribes

Tuesday, January 17, 2006  

Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) has proposed a major overhaul to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act but none of the provisions would benefit two Texas tribes who were ensnared in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal.

The Tigua Tribe and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe were recognized by an act of Congress in 1987. A year later, IGRA was passed but neither tribe has been able to take advantage of it because the courts have ruled that the tribes agreed to give up gaming in exchange for recognition.

Not being covered by IGRA led to the Abramoff scandal, a lawyer for the Alabama-Coushattas said. Fred Petti said the tribes wouldn't have needed to hire lobbyists if they fell under IGRA.

"All of these hearings and prosecutions are tremendous and great, (but) if all this stuff goes through without any changes in the Alabama-Coushatta and Tigua restoration acts, a lot of these reforms don't prevent the next Jack Abramoff from doing the same thing, attorney Fred Petti told the Associated Press.

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Tougher gambling laws wouldn't help Texas tribes (AP 1/16)