Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) has introduced a bill that would reinstate the Bush administration's policy against off-reservation gaming.

McCain introduced S.1424 on Wednesday. It requires the Interior Department to consider distance from the reservation when reviewing land-into-trust applications.

Among other factors, the review must address: "the impacts of taking the applicable off-reservation land into trust on the on-reservation unemployment rate" and "the specific on-reservation benefits of taking the off-reservation land into trust, including an assessment of whether on-reservation jobs will be created and, if so, the quantity of jobs expected to be created."

The bill also requires DOI to determine whether taking off-reservation land into is "compatible with state and local requirements for planning and zoning and public health and safety."

Additionally, tribes must disclose, up front, any "plan, contract, agreement, or other information" related to the use of the off-reservation land.

The bill essentially reinstates the January 2008 guidance memo that makes it nearly impossible for tribes to acquire land away from existing reservations. The Obama administration rescinded the policy last month.

McCain attended a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing on gaming today but did not mention that he introduced the bill, a copy of which has been posted by Turtle Talk.

Bush Administration Off-Reservation Gaming Policy:
Guidance on taking off-reservation land into trust for gaming purposes (January 3, 2008)

Related Stories:
>Tribes hopeful with reversal on off-reservation gaming policy (6/15)
Echo Hawk pulls controversial off-reservation gaming memo (6/14)

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