Texas Rep. Norma Chávez (D) introduced a bill to restore the gaming rights of the Tigua Tribe and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe.
The bill allows federally recognized tribes to operate bingo and poker. "This bill recognizes the tribe's sovereignty and allows them to prosper and be self-sufficient," said Chávez, The El Paso Times reported. The tribes operated a successful Class III casinos but the federal courts ordered them closed. The tribes agreed to a state prohibition on gambling, the courts said. Get the Story: