NIGA opposes Rep. Pombo's IGRA amendments

Thursday, July 27, 2006  

The National Indian Gaming Association said on Wednesday it opposes H.R.4893, a bill that would restrict off-reservation casinos.

NIGA issued a statement [PDF] after the bill was approved 27-9 by the House Resources Committee. It said the measure would unfairly deny some tribes the ability to open casinos away from existing reservations while allowing others to go forward.

NIGA opposes a provision that requires tribes to negotiate agreements with local governments to offset the impacts of new casinos. It is also a very bad precedent to require tribes to negotiate with local governments since locals are state subdivisions, not sovereigns," the statement said.

H.R.4893, now known as the Restricting Indian Gaming to Homelands of Tribes (RIGHT) Act, is sponsored by Rep. Richard Pombo (R-California), the chairman of the House committee. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-West Virginia), the top Democrat on the panel, added his name to the bill yesterday.

The full text of the substitute can be found at http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/issues/naia/Pombo_Rahall_ANS_HR_4893.pdf An explanation of the bill is at http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/issues/naia/Pombo_Rahall_ANS_explanation.pdf.

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