The Lumbee Tribe's bid for federal recognition should not be muddied by concerns about gaming, The Fayetteville Observer says in an editorial.

The paper says a hearing last week showed that opponents to the tribe are playing politics. "It is unconscionable that the politics of gambling is holding the Lumbee tribe hostage, denying its members the benefits of recognition that could sharply improve the quality of life in one of the most impoverished counties in North Carolina," the paper says.

The paper says the Lumbee Tribe's legitimacy is not in doubt. "This is about rights and fairness," the paper says. "It is about letting a legitimate tribe have access to the benefits and programs that Congress and the federal government provide to Indian tribes."

Get the Story:
Gambling politics plagues Lumbee recognition (The Fayetteville Observer 4/3)

Get Lumbee Bills:
Dole: S.420 | McIntyre: H.R.898 | Taylor: H.R.1408

Relevant Links:
Official Lumbee Tribe website - http://www.lumbeetribe.com
Lumbee Regional Development Association - http://www.lumbee.org

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