Rep. Cole eager for Obama's nominees at NIGC

Friday, November 14, 2008  

Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma) supported John McCain in the 2008 election but the only Native American in Congress is eager for president-elect Barack Obama to appoint new members of the National Indian Gaming Commission.

Cole says the current members of the NIGC have imposed "irresponsible and unnecessary regulations" on tribes. NIGC Chairman Phil Hogen (Oglala Sioux) and Vice Chair Norm DesRosiers were nominated by President George W. Bush.

"I look forward to a new commission being appointed and I sincerely hope they do not exhibit the same hostility towards the Indian gaming industry that is the legacy of the current commission," Cole, a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, told The Tulsa World.

Cole has been highly critical of regulations affecting Class II games like bingo and pull tabs. Oklahoma is the largest Class II market in the nation.

The NIGC dropped two of its most controversial Class II regulations but kept two other ones intact. Cole and the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association say the remaining rules, which became effective this week, will hurt tribes.

Get the Story:
New casino rules deemed costly (The Tulsa World 11/14)