
The St. Croix Band of Lake Superior Chippewa fears a new Bush administration policy will lead to rejection of its
off-reservation casino in Beloit, Wisconsin.
Chairwoman Hazel Hindsley
testified at a House Natural Resources Committee
hearing last week on the change.
She said the
new policy violates the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which authorizes off-reservation casinos in certain instances.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs, however, says IGRA was not written to "encourage" off-reservation gaming.
Assistant secretary Carl Artman
rejected 11 tribes that were seeking casinos far from existing reservations.
The St. Croix Band hasn't received a decision yet. The tribe is in court to dispute the policy.
Get the Story:
Beloit Casino Project Leaders Testify in Washington
(WREX 3/4)