Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - Lawmakers seek say in gaming pacts

Lawmakers seek say in gaming pacts

Sep 15, 2004 - 07:59:44 CDT

By DEENA WINTER, Bismarck Tribune

A panel of state lawmakers is considering legislation that would require the Legislature to give its stamp of approval to any gaming compacts negotiated by the governor and Indian tribes.

Gaming compacts are 10-year agreements -- between the governor and tribes -- regulating Indian gaming on the state's five reservations. Currently, state lawmakers have no say in negotiations, although they can give their input if they're in session while the compact is being negotiated. If they're not in session, the majority and minority leaders may attend negotating meetings.

An interim committee of lawmakers is considering draft legislation to change that.

Gov. Ed Schafer and the tribes inked a 10-year compact in 1999, with an option to renew for five years. At the time, the compact hadn't quite expired, but the tribes sought a new compact so they could better obtain financing for casino expansions.

Lately the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa tribe has been talking about possibly building a casino in Grand Forks -- which would require the gaming compact to be renegotiated with Gov. John Hoeven.

But that's not why the lawmakers are looking at changing the law governing compacts. The issue arose during a meeting of the Budget Committee on Human Services, which discussed problems collecting child support on Indian reservations.

Sen. Judy Lee, R-West Fargo, made a motion to prepare a bill draft requiring legislative approval of Indian gaming compacts. Lee said she didn't have the Grand Forks situation in mind, she just thinks the legislative branch should be involved in the process.

She said it's similar to the need for healthy people over age 18 to have a living will -- it's easier to talk about when they're healthy, rather than during a health crisis.

"That's why this is a good time to be talking about it because there is no crisis," Lee said. "It's more of an academic question."

A spokesman for Hoeven, Don Canton, said "We want to wait to see what the legislation looks like and what the legislative intent is" before commenting.

The bill draft will be discussed at the committee's next meeting, which is scheduled Sept. 22.

(Reach Deena Winter at 250-8251 or deena.winter@bismarcktribune.com.)

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