Navajo Nation president can't ax smoking at tribal casinos

Friday, April 29, 2011

Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly can't ban smoking at the tribe's gaming facilities.

Earlier this week, Shelly signed an executive order to make the tribe's casinos smoke-free. But the Navajo Nation Department of Justice said the order can only affect offices of the executive branch.

Shelly will instead hold public meetings on the reservation to gauge interest in the issue. The Navajo Nation Council passed a ban in 2008 but then-president Joe Shirley Jr. vetoed it.

Bob Winter, the CEO of the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise, said a smoking ban will hurt business.

Get the Story:
href=/my.asp?url=http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/9d6bd3d1241343848043be9314e955e9/AZ--Navajo-Smoking-Ban/>Navajo justice department says tribal president's ban on smoking not enforceable (AP 4/28)
Navajo Nation president awaits word on smoking ban (AP 4/28)
Navajo casino threatened by smoking ban (The Phoenix Business Journal 4/27)

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