Editorial: Negotiate with Poarch Creek Band

Tuesday, April 15, 2008  

"History does not repeat itself, but echoes of the past often can be heard.

If he had listened, Attorney General Troy King might have heard a few of those echoes when he filed suit in U. S. District Court to challenge the authority of the U. S. Department of the Interior. Why? To force Alabama to negotiate a gambling pact with the Poarch Band of the Creek Indians.

King says this is an effort to force the states to negotiate a pact with the Indians, and he has gone to court to stop it. Though the composition of the court has changed since 1991, smart money says King may prevail. But should he?

Even if it is legal, is it fair to deny the Indians what other residents of Alabama have? Moreover, given our current financial crunch, wouldn't this be a good time for the governor to sit down with the Indians and work out an agreement that would be acceptable and beneficial to both sides?

And lastly, wouldn't allowing the Indians to have video gambling on their land discourage efforts by those who want to bring full-scale casino gambling to the state?

In other words, does Alabama really want to win this one?"

Get the Story:
It's the Indians vs. Troy King: Gambling and fairness (The Anniston Star 4/15)