The California Congressman who helped the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians obtain land for an off-reservation casino is urging state lawmakers to reject the tribe's gaming compact.
Rep. George Miller (D-California) inserted a provision into an omnibus act that mandated the acquisition of land in the Bay Area. The tribe, previously landless, planned to turn a card club on the property into a Class III casino. Miller said he still supports the tribe's right to gaming. But in a March 11 letter to state lawmakers, he said the tribe's plan for a large casino with up to 2,500 slot machines is not acceptable for an urban area. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) has introduced a bill to require the tribe to go through a lengthy process before opening a casino on the land. Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, has said he will hold a hearing on the issue. Get the Story: