Artist's rendering of the proposed West Valley Resort. Image from Tohono O'odham Nation
The Tohono O'odham Nation has racked up nine court victories in its bid to open an off-reservation casino in Arizona. But the tribe's successes could be wiped out by one just one bill in Congress. The House will be debating H.R.1410, which blocks the proposed West Valley Resort, today. “The Bush administration would not have gone in this direction,” Rep. Trent Franks (R-Arizona), the sponsor of the bill, told Bloomberg News. “[President] Obama is trying to gain favor with tribal entities. They seem to believe that all of the negatives associated with gambling are subordinate to the political advantage that they believe it brings them by approving these projects.” The Obama administration opposes the bill and it likely would face opposition in the Senate, where it has never received a hearing. Get the Story:
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House to take up bill blocking Tohono O'odham Nation casino (9/16)
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