Tribal leaders in Arizona slammed a Republican candidate for Congress on Wednesday for his stance on amending the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Leaders of the White Mountain Apache Tribe and the San Carlos Apache Tribe criticized Republican Jonathan Paton for his answer on a candidates' survey from a conservative organization. He stated that he supports “Amending the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to place further restrictions on the establishment and expansion of gambling by Indian tribes in the United States.”

“Revenue from gaming has helped Arizona tribal communities build schools and hospitals and infrastructure. We can’t afford to turn back this progress, and we need a representative who understands that," White Mountain Apache Chairman Ronnie Lupe said in response, The Arizona Daily Star reported.

Paton, however, claimed he only wants to amend IGRA to stop the Tohono O'odham Nation from opening an off-reservation casino in the district he wants to represent. But a bill that would do just that in the 112th Congress doesn't amend IGRA at all -- it amends an entirely different land claim settlement act.

Paton told the paper that his position “isn’t to restrict Indian gaming in general."

Arizona's newly redrawn 1st Congressional District covers 12 reservations, including most of the Gila River Indian Community, whose leaders oppose the Tohono O'odham casino.

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Tribal gaming arises as issue in CD1 as officials criticize Paton (The Arizona Daily Star 8/23)