Letter: IGRA benefits tribe, members and states

Thursday, February 1, 2007  

"The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) was passed primarily to establish a baseline regulatory protocol that would ensure lawful gaming and generate self- sufficiency for Native Americans.

The IGRA provides gaming regulatory protocol for economic development support and respect toward tribal governments and their sovereignty, which decreases dependency on the federal government.

Congress' intention for economic development by passing the IGRA has played out successfully, benefiting tribal members, the state, its residents, employees and businesses -- not to mention dollars from the tourists who travel here because of the casinos.

The casinos pay millions of tax dollars from sales of alcohol, tobacco and retail goods, services and food, plus more millions in income taxes withheld from paychecks of employees who live in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

As for the intention of Congress to give tribal nations a leg up, who is saying that once there is equal footing for Native Americans there cannot then be profit? Is the American dream not for Native Americans also? Don't we live in a capitalist society where competition determines outcomes, not pre-emptive legislation to halt profit for 'powerhouses' or businesses with 'financial muscle'?"

Get the Story:
Marjorie Colebut-Jackson: All Citizens Deserve The Chance To Earn A Profit (The New London Day 2/1)
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