Lawmaker confident on Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's casino

Wednesday, January 23, 2013  

A Massachusetts state lawmaker is confident the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe will win federal approval for its casino.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs plans to complete review of the tribe's land-into-trust application this spring. One of the big issues is the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar.

The ruling restricts the land-into-trust process to tribes that were "under federal jurisdiction" in 1934. The Mashpees didn't gain formal recognition until May 2007 but State Sen. Marc Pacheco (D) believes the tribe can meet the standard.

“What gave me that feeling was that President Obama when he was still in the Senate had had very good relationships with tribal entities. I felt the administration would be sympathetic to landless tribes,” Pacheco told The Bridgewater Independent.

Get the Story:
Bridgewater Casino Task Force studies Taunton and Bridgewater scenarios (The Bridgewater Independent 1/22)

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe spends big for gaming lobbyists (1/22