Artist's rendering of the proposed West Valley Resort. Image from Tohono O'odham Nation.
The House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs held a hearing on Thursday to consider H.R.1410, a bill that would prevent the Tohono O'odham Nation from opening an off-reservation casino in Arizona. The Keep the Promise Act doesn't mention the tribe by name. But its bars Class II and Class III gaming on land acquired in the metro Phoenix area after April 9, 2013 -- a provision that applies to the tribe's proposed West Valley Resort. "H.R. 1410 is an ugly black mark on the United States’ and the state of Arizona’s long relationship with the Tohono O’odham Nation," Chairman Ned Norris told the committee. The Obama administration opposes the bill, Bureau of Indian Affairs director Mike Black said. Congress should not single out tribes for disparate treatment, he testified. Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community President Diane Enos supported the bill. She said all tribes agreed not to pursue casinos in the metro Phoenix area. A prior version of the bill passed during the 112th Congress but it never came up for a vote in the Senate. The BIA's testimony on the bill starts at about 1:10 in the Panel 1 Testimony. Panel 3 includes the testimony of Chairman Norris and President Enos. Get the Story:
Phoenix-area casino bill denounced as biased (The Arizona Republic 5/17) Committee Notice:
Legislative hearing on H.R. 623, H.R. 740, H.R. 841, H.R. 931, H.R. 1306, and H.R. 1410 (May 16, 2013) District Court Decision:
Arizona v. Tohono O'odam Nation (May 7, 2013) Related Stories:
Column: Tohono O'odham Nation's casino a bit of 'revenge' (5/16)
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