GOP in Wis. hold hearing after passing bill

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2003

Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin held a hearing on Thursday to address new tribal gaming compacts after passing a bill stripping the governor of authority to make them.

Gov. Jim Doyle (D) and tribal leaders criticized lawmakers for providing little notice of the hearing. No tribal leaders were able to testify.

Doyle yesterday also defended two new agreements he has made, saying he was not influenced by high-dollar campaign contributions to Democrat interests. The Ho-Chunk Nation donated $500,000 and did the Forest County Potawatomi and the Oneida Nation.

The latter two have agreed to share more casino revenues with the state in exchange for expanding their operations. The Ho-Chunk Nation is negotiation with Doyle.

Get the Story:
Gifts not linked to pacts, Doyle says (The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel 2/28)
Doyle administration, Republicans still feuding over compacts (AP 2/28)