Off-reservation casino bills promised floor time

Wednesday, March 26, 2008  

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) has promised floor time on two controversial off-reservation casino bills, The Hill newspaper reports.

The House Natural Resources Committee has already approved H.R. 2176 and H.R. 4115. The bills settle land claims for the Bay Mills Indian Community and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians in exchange for gaming rights.

But most members of the House Judiciary Committee oppose the bills, according to The Hill. Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Michigan), the committee chairman, is leading the opposition and has until April 4 to take action, the paper said.

Most of the opposition stems from the impact the tribal casinos would have on Detroit's commercial casinos. MGM Mirage, which operates a casino in Detroit, has been lobbying heavily against the measures.

Conyers and his allies also say Congress would set a precedent by settling a land claim that involves gaming. But Congress approved a similar bill for the Seneca Nation of New York.

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Conyers and Dingell face off over casinos (The Hill 3/26)