Members of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians should vote on the tribe's new casino, according to Gov. Haley Barbour (R).

Barbour isn't a tribal member -- although he said his great-great-great-uncle was Greenwood LeFlore IV, a Choctaw chief. But he said the casino is controversial enough for a vote.

“I think they ought to have a tribal vote on this slot parlor in Jones County,” Barbour said at the Neshoba County Fair, WAPT-TV reported. “When the Tribal Council is so closely divided and the vote is 807 to go forward with an $18 million investment of the tribe’s money, then I believe.. . it would be right to allow the entire tribe to vote on whether to go forward.”

Barbour plans to file a lawsuit against the casino even though Attorney General Jim Hood said there is no basis for a claim. At the fair, Hood accused Barbour of trying to "start an Indian war" with the Choctaws.

Get the Story:
Barbour Says All Choctaws Should Vote On Proposed Casino (WAPT-TV 7/29)
Choctaw Casino A Focus of Fair Speeches (WTOK-TV 7/29)
A big day at the fair (The Jackson Clarion-Ledger 7/30)

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