Indian Gaming > Many holds delay Sen. McCain's IGRA amendments

July 24, 2006

Many holds delay Sen. McCain's IGRA amendments

A dozen senators have put holds on S.2078, a controversial bill to amend the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), the chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee introduced the bill last November. He says the $23 billion Indian gaming industry needs more regulation.

But some senators, like Republican Thad Cochran of Mississippi, say the bill goes too far. They are objecting to provisions that would give the National Indian Gaming Commission more power over the daily business at tribal casinos.

Other senators, like Republican David Vitter of Louisiana, say it doesn't go far enough. They want to eliminate the ability of tribes to establish casinos away from reservations.

Most tribes and tribal interests are opposed to the bill as well. The National Indian Gaming Association is lobbying against the bill and so is the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, who was Jack Abramoff's biggest tribal client.

Get the Story:
Senators stall McCain's bill on gaming (The Arizona Republic 7/24)
Vitter, others block Indian gaming reform bill (The Shreveport Times 7/23)
Indian gaming reform bill put on hold (The Jackson Clarion-Ledger 7/23)