Off-reservation casinos debated at hearing

Thursday, February 7, 2008  

The House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on Wednesday on two Michigan land claim bills.

H.R. 2176 and H.R. 4115 settle land claims for the Bay Mills Indian Community and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. But debate centered mainly on the tribe's plans to open casinos hundreds of miles from their existing reservations.

If the bill passes, the Bay Mills tribe would gain trust land in Port Huron to use for a casino. The Soo Tribe would receive land in Flint or Romulus.

Members of Michigan's Congressional delegation are split on the issue. The city of Detroit, which has three commercial casinos, opposes the bills.

The Bush administration also opposes the legislation. Assistant secretary Carl Artman said the Bureau of Indian Affairs doesn't support a mandatory land acquisition.

The Saginaw Chippewa Tribe testified against the bills. The tribe says the other tribes are encroaching on Saginaw Chippewa territory.

The committee will mark up the bill next

Get the Story:
Big guns join casino battle (The Port Huron Times Herald 2/7)
Kilpatrick criticizes bill on casinos (The Detroit Free Press 2/7)
Testimony: Casino should bring jobs, growth (The Journal Newspapers 2/7)
Michigan delegation splits on casinos (AP 2/6)