Column: Governor threatens Mississippi Choctaws over casino

Monday, June 28, 2010

"Now comes the modern day Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians with a plan to build a small casino on tribal property in Jones County near Sandersville. Local opposition has come on several fronts - all legitimate - on moral, religious or economic grounds.

Tribal gaming brings little in the way of taxes to non-tribal governments, but many of the headaches. Jones County opposition to the proposed Choctaw casino is what it is.

I can't argue with that.

But much of the political opposition to the proposed casino - Gov. Haley Barbour calls it a "slot parlor" - is not based on moral or religious concerns or on concerns Jones County residents will bear some infrastructure costs.

In Barbour's letter last week to Choctaw Miko Beasley Denson, the governor made every possible threat to the Choctaws - lawsuits, regulatory hurdles from environmental challenges, public health concerns, potential damages to state and county roads and bridges - to stop the project. Barbour even lamented the dangers the development posed to "tortoises, fowl snakes, and plants" in the Pine Belt region. Please . . .

All that flora and fauna aside, it's clear why Barbour and other state officials want to stop the Choctaw's project - to protect the profit margins of the state-regulated casinos from competition."

Get the Story:
Sid Salter: Barbour's threats to Choctaws a real farce (The Jackson Clarion-Ledger 6/27)

Another Opinion:
Editorial: Choctaws: Follow state compact (The Jackson Clarion-Ledger 6/27)

Related Stories:
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Mississippi Choctaw members seek referendum on casino bid (6/24)
Mississippi governor promises legal action on Choctaw casino (6/23)
State official questions Mississippi Choctaw casino compact (6/21)
Editorial: Local input needed for Mississippi Choctaw casino (6/14)
Mississippi governor plans to fight proposed Choctaw casino (6/11)
Mississippi Choctaw leaders back casino off main reservation (6/9)
Opinion: Mississippi Choctaw casino will hurt the community (5/31)
Letter: Mississippi Choctaws look out for their communities (5/24)
Letter: Mississippi Choctaw casino will hurt local community (5/21)
Mississippi Choctaw council delays action on casino project (5/20)
Church groups line up to oppose Mississippi Choctaw casino (5/19)
Mississippi Choctaw tribal council delays vote on casino bid (5/11)
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Mississippi Choctaws planning casino off main reservation (5/5)