The Forest County Potawatomi
Tribe will continue to withhold gaming revenues from the state of Wisconsin, a top official said.
Jeff Crawford, the tribe's attorney general, appeared on UpFront with Mike Gousha to explain why. He said the state could owe the tribe million of dollars in back revenue payments if
Gov. Scott Walker (R) approves an off-reservation casino for the Menominee Nation.
"I think that we will follow our compact and the provisions that allow us to dispute that payment. From our perspective the state will have to pay us potentially hundreds of millions of dollars over the years if the Kenosha project goes forward," Crawford told Gousha.
The tribe's Class
III compact sets up an arbitration process when disputes arise. Walker has said the state has entered talks to address the issue.
The Menominee Nation wants to build an $800 million casino in Kenosha. The site
is only 40 miles from the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee.
A 2005
amendment to the Potawatomi compact requires the tribe and the state to
enter into an arbitration process in the event of another casino "more than 30
miles and within 50 miles" of the Milwaukee casino.
Get the Story:
Tribal leader: Competing casino could cost state millions (WISN 9/20)
Potawatomi tribe still won't pay state while Kenosha casino plan is considered
(WKOW 9/21)
Wisconsin casino expansion may benefit Florida tribe
(The Wausau Daily Herald 9/19)
An Opinion:
Matt Pommer: Will governor's 'win-win' be a loser for the state?
(The Sun Prairie Star 9/22)
$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 Tribe and state in compact arbitration (09/11)