Mississippi governor calls for Choctaw Band to vote on new casino

Friday, July 30, 2010  

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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