Opinion

Editorial: Idaho tribes shouldn't hide gaming revenues

Monday, October 31, 2011

"In 2002, Idaho’s voters approved an initiative that required the state’s Indian tribes to donate “5 percent of its annual net gaming income for the support of local educational programs and schools on or near the reservation.”

Recently, a northern Idaho newspaper tried to find out if that has been happening.

The St. Maries Gazette called school districts in its area and discovered that none had received money from the Coeur d’Alene Tribe since 2009. The tribe told the newspaper it had made payments, but would not say how much or to whom. Soon after, the tribe cut the Plummer/Worley School District a $210,000 check.

The newspaper felt compelled to see if the tribe has been following state law. So, it asked the state agency in charge of enforcing the Indian gaming statute, the Idaho Lottery Commission, to provide public records related to its oversight of the tribe’s compliance with state law."

Get the Story:
Editorial: WHAT ARE IDAHO TRIBES HIDING? (The Idaho Falls Post Register 10/31)

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