Sen. Cornyn asks DOI to delay Kickapoo gaming

Friday, June 29, 2007

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) asked the Interior Department on Thursday to delay Class III rules for the Kickapoo Tribe.

Cornyn said state voters have repeatedly rejected Class III gaming. He proposed giving the state attorney general -- who also wrote a letter to DOI -- power to define which games the tribe should be allowed to operate.

The tribe sought federal help because the state refuses to negotiate a compact. DOI responded by issuing preliminary rules to authorize blackjack, keno, roulette and off-track pari-mutuel betting.

As attorney general of Texas, Cornyn shut down two tribal casinos. In those cases, the tribes were subject to a federal law that limited their ability to engage in gaming.

The Kickapoo Tribe is not under similar restrictions.

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Indian Gambling Talks Delayed (AP 6/29)