Narragansett Tribe pushes casino project

Friday, October 9, 2009  

The leader of the Narragansett Tribe of Rhode Island was in Washington, D.C., to promote a new plan for a casino.

Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas met with members of the state's Congressional delegation. He told them about the tribe's plan to buy the bankrupt Twin River racetrack, have it placed in trust and convert it to a full-fledged tribal gaming facility.

But the idea was met with resistance, The Providence Journal reported. Sen. Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island), Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) and Rep. James R. Langevin all said the tribe should ask state voters for approval to move forward.

Reed and Langevin went further and said they don't support "expansion" of gaming in the state. But the Journal reported that no one expressed outright opposition to legislation that would fix the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar.

Without the bill, the tribe can't follow the land-into-trust process.

Get the Story:
Delegation says casino must have voter OK (The Providence Journal 10/9)

Land-Into-Trust Bill:
S.1703 | H.R.3697 | | Dorgan Floor Statement

Supreme Court Decision:
Syllabus | Opinion [Thomas] | Concurrence [Breyer] | Dissent [Stevens] | Concurrence/Dissent [Souter]

Supreme Court Documents:
Oral Argument Transcript | Briefs