TIME runs second Indian gaming feature

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2002

TIME runs the second part of its special report on Indian gaming this week, focusing on the lobbying that goes on behind the scenes of the federal government.

The article includes the Clinton administration's handling of six federal recognition decisions but includes only one example where political contributions are alleged to have played a factor. The article omits that while the Department of Interior's Inspector General was critical of the process, an internal report found no undue influence.

The article also talks about tribal priority allocation funds, also known as TPA, which are used to fund critical tribal government operations. In fiscal year 2003, the TPA budget is $776.8 million, which TIME quotes at about $800 million.

The article compares TPA funding for several tribes, citing a $4.3 million for the 28,000 members of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Tribe of North Dakota. The article, however, omits that the number of Indians eligible to receive services in and around the reservation is less than half that amount, or 11,000 people.

TIME correctly states that the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida has 400 members. But there are 600 Indians the service area and the self-reported unemployment rates of both tribes are considerably high. Turtle Mountain's unemployment is a self-reported 60 percent while the Miccosukee unemployment is 45 percent.

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Playing the Political Slots (TIME 12/16)