Rep. Jeff Denham (R-California). Photo from Facebook
Officials in Madera County, California, are opposing a bill that prevents the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians from using its trust land for Class III gaming. The county's board of supervisors questioned why Rep. Jeff Denham (R-California) signed on as a co-sponsor of H.R.5079, the California Compact Protection Act. A letter notes that he expressed support for the tribe's efforts when he was a state lawmaker. "The Madera County Board of Supervisors must express our deep dismay and disappointment with not only the substance of the draft H.R. 5079 legislation but also your personal participation in this wildly unfair and misdirected attempt at lawmaking," a letter that was posted by The Sierra Star reads. "If this legislation is inconceivably passed into law, it will accomplish absolutely nothing constructive - except putting at risk over 12 years of cooperation between our community and the North Fork Rancheria." Denham, who joined Congress in January 2013, is one of six co-sponsors of the bill. All hail from California -- three are Republicans and three are Democrats. The bill takes great pains to ensure that only the North Fork Rancheria and another tribe, the Enterprise Rancheria, are affected by a provision that bars the Bureau of Indian Affairs from approving or otherwise allowing Class III gaming on their trust lands. It specifically references a section in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act that both tribes followed. The bill is supported by rival tribes with existing casinos. But they won't be affected if it becomes law because their lands were placed in trust under a different provision of IGRA. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. A hearing before the House Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs could come before the end of the month but an official notice hasn't been posted online. Get the Story:
County asks Congressman Denham to withdraw support of H.R. 5079 (The Sierra Times 5/12) Tribal Leader Opinions on H.R.5079, the California Compact Protection Act:
Maryann McGovran: Don't be fooled by efforts of 'wealthy' tribes (5/13)
Claudia Gonzales: Off-reservation gaming fuels attacks on tribes (5/13) Another Opinion:
Editorial: Californians are not potted plants in Indian casino negotiations (The Sacramento Bee 5/10) Bureau of Indian Affairs Documents for Enterprise Rancheria:
Press Release | Fact Sheet | Two-Part Determination Letter Bureau of Indian Affairs Documents for North Fork Rancheria:
Press Release | Fact Sheet | Section 20 Determination Federal Register Notices:
Indian Gaming (October 22, 2013)
Land Acquisitions; North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California (December 3, 2012)
Land Acquisitions; Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California (December 3, 2012)
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McGovran: Don't be fooled by efforts of 'wealthy' tribes (5/13) Claudia Gonzales: Off-reservation gaming fuels attacks on tribes (5/13)
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