Republicans are benefiting from a high-stakes battle over an off-reservation casino in Wisconsin, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports
Last year, the Republican Governors Association received $65,000 from the Seminole Tribe of Florida and Hard Rock Entertainment, which is owned by the tribe. The Seminoles are financing the Menominee Nation project in Kenosha.
Another $60,000 came from the Forest County Potawatomi Community last year, bringing the tribe's total contributions to the RGA to $160,000. The Potawatomis oppose the proposed Menominee casino.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs
approved the Menominee casino under the two-part determination provisions of the
Indian
Gaming Regulatory Act. But the final decision rests with Gov. Scott Walker (R), who
is still studying the proposal.
"The longer the decision gets put off, the more money that will come in," Mike McCabe, the executive director of the non-partisan Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, told the paper. "There are huge sums of cash."
Get the Story:
GOP governors group a winner in Kenosha casino fight
(The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 2/4)
$P Bureau of Indian Affairs Documents:
Press
Release | Fact
Sheet: Menominee Nation Decision | Section
20 Determination: Menominee Nation Off-Reservation Casino
Related Stories:
Forest County Potawatomi Community
withdraws from NIGA (2/3)