{"id":219,"date":"2020-09-11T08:22:55","date_gmt":"2020-09-11T13:22:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/w\/?p=219"},"modified":"2020-09-11T09:42:39","modified_gmt":"2020-09-11T14:42:39","slug":"tribal-corporation-secures-victory-in-gaming-initiative-dispute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/09\/11\/tribal-corporation-secures-victory-in-gaming-initiative-dispute\/","title":{"rendered":"Tribal corporation secures victory in gaming initiative dispute"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\"><iframe class=\"embed-responsive-item\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/n9Zzf6tSKBM\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Keep the Money in Nebraska: <a href=https:\/\/youtu.be\/n9Zzf6tSKBM>Ho-Chunk Inc. CEO Lance Morgan<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<h1>Tribal corporation secures victory in gaming initiative dispute<\/h1>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Friday, September 11, 2020<\/div>\r\n<div class=byline>By <A href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kevin_Abourezk\">Kevin Abourezk<\/A> <A href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kevin_Abourezk\"><I aria-hidden=true class=\"fab fa-twitter\"><\/I><\/A><\/div>\r\n<div class=source>Indianz.Com<\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nA decision by the Nebraska Supreme Court on Thursday approving three related gaming initiatives will pave the way for casino gambling at racetracks if approved by voters in November.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/20-612TEMPslip.pdf>4-3 ruling<\/a> overturned an August 25 determination made by Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen, who refused to allow the three gaming initiatives to be included on the general election ballot, despite the initiatives\u2019 supporters gaining <a href=https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/IndianGaming\/2020\/08\/25\/gaming-initiatives-backed-by-tribal-corp.asp>enough signatures to add them to the ballot<\/a>.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cWe\u2019re very pleased with the court\u2019s decision and that Nebraskans will have the opportunity to vote FOR on all three ballot initiatives,\u201d said Lynne McNally, secretary\/treasurer for <a href=https:\/\/keepthemoneyinneb.com\/>Keep the Money in Nebraska<\/a>, the organization sponsoring the measures. \u201cThis is more than a win for the initiatives; it\u2019s a win for Nebraska\u2019s referendum process.\u201d\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<a href=https:\/\/hochunkinc.com\/>Ho-Chunk Inc.<\/a>, the economic development corporation of the <a href=http:\/\/www.winnebagotribe.com\/>Winnebago Tribe<\/a>, partnered with the Nebraska Horsemen&#8217;s Benevolent and Protective Association and Omaha Exposition and Racing to support Keep the Money in Nebraska.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\"fb-post\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lynne.mcnallyschuller\/posts\/3532017596842822\" data-show-text=\"true\" data-width=\"750\"><blockquote cite=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lynne.mcnallyschuller\/posts\/3532017596842822\" class=\"fb-xfbml-parse-ignore\"><p>Anyone who is at all interested in the casino petition, or the initiative process in the State of Nebraska, owes a huge&#8230;<\/p>Posted by <a href=\"#\" role=\"button\">Lynne McNally<\/a> on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lynne.mcnallyschuller\/posts\/3532017596842822\">Thursday, September 10, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote><\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nPetitions to place the gambling issue on the ballot were signed by 475,000 Nebraskans, and Evnen hasn\u2019t suggested that the petition drive didn\u2019t gather enough signatures.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nIf passed, the measures will create 4,600 jobs and generate more than $45 million in property tax relief annually, according to Keep the Money in Nebraska.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe three initiatives included a constitutional amendment to legalize casino gambling at racetracks, as well as proposed legislation to regulate and tax casino gambling. Racetracks in or near Omaha, Lincoln, South Sioux City, Grand Island, Hastings and Columbus would be able to conduct casino gambling under the proposal.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nHo-Chunk Inc owns and operates the Atokad Park in South Sioux City, where casino-style gaming could take place if voters approve the ballot initiatives.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nEvnen had argued the proposals failed to comply with a single-subject rule set forth in the state constitution and that the proposals contained a \u201chidden authorization\u201d of expanded gambling on tribal lands in Nebraska because under the federal <a href=https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Indian_Gaming_Regulatory_Act>Indian Gaming Regulatory Act<\/a> the state would be required to negotiate to allow the same kind of gambling on tribal lands.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\"fb-post\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/hochunkinc\/photos\/a.2994951153911754\/2994954957244707\/?type=3\" data-show-text=\"true\" data-width=\"\"><blockquote cite=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/hochunkinc\/photos\/a.2994951153911754\/2994954957244707\/?type=3\" class=\"fb-xfbml-parse-ignore\">Posted by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/hochunkinc\/\">Ho-Chunk, Inc.<\/a> on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/hochunkinc\/photos\/a.2994951153911754\/2994954957244707\/?type=3\">Sunday, September 15, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Ho-Chunk Inc: <a href=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pg\/hochunkinc\/photos\/?tab=album&#038;album_id=2994951153911754&#038;ref=page_internal>Atokad racetrack<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe court rejected Evnen\u2019s argument that the initiatives violated the state\u2019s single-subject rule by having two subjects: one, permitting the \u201cconduct of games of chance by authorized operators, and second, that such activity is permitted only at racetracks.\u201d The court ruled that because the three initiatives are presented separately voters will have the opportunity to vote for on initiative but not the other.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cBecause voters can vote differently on each separate initiative, we conclude and hold that single subject review should focus on the specific initiative being reviewed without reference to the content of another initiative that is submitted separately,\u201d the court said.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nAs for Evnen\u2019s argument that the proposals would allow expanded tribal gaming, the court said a legal review can only focus on the text of the proposed initiatives, not on issues that might arise through approval of the proposals.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cWe have stated that the power of initiative must be liberally construed to promote the democratic process,\u201d the court said. \u201cWhether or not games of chance conducted at racetracks should become the law is for the people to decide.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\r\n<iframe class=\"embed-responsive-item\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MPPtL-t4AT8\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Indianz.Com Video: <a href=https:\/\/youtu.be\/MPPtL-t4AT8>Nebraska gaming dispute | Nebraska Supreme Court <\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe petitions submitted by the backers of Keep the Money in Nebraska are: \r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/IndianGaming\/2020\/08\/25\/goc-constitutional-amendment-petition.pdf\">Games of Chance \u2013 Constitutional Amendment Petition<\/a>, \r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/IndianGaming\/2020\/08\/25\/goc-racetrack-petition.pdf\">Games of Chance \u2013 Racetrack Petition<\/a> and\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/IndianGaming\/2020\/08\/25\/goc-tax-petition.pdf\">Games of Chance \u2013 Tax Petition<\/a>.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nBesides Ho-Chunk Inc., the sponsors of the petitions are the Nebraska Horsemen&#8217;s Benevolent and Protective Association and Omaha Exposition and Racing.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nHo-Chunk Inc. owns <a href=https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/>Indianz.Com<\/a>. The website operates independently is not involved in the activities of the corporation.","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Voters in Nebraska are being asked to authorize casino-style gaming in their state as part of an initiative backed by Ho-Chunk Inc.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,67,13,1,14],"tags":[4,71,56,70,73,72,55,69,68],"class_list":["post-219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-indian-gaming","category-law","category-national","category-politics","tag-4","tag-economic-development","tag-elections","tag-hci","tag-igra","tag-judiciary","tag-native-vote","tag-nebraska","tag-winnebago","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/atokadparkhochunkinc.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-3x","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=219"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/219\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}