"While the state must be fair to the tribe, this does not have to be a done deal. Tribal leaders are experienced enough to recognize that they are dealing with a divided state government that is facing pressure from the courts - so if, after consultation with responsible legislators, Doyle feels it is necessary to send his negotiators back to the table for a round of tinkering, the governor should not hesitate to take that step. Making this an agreement that will withstand the tests of politics and time is important enough for both the state and the Potawatomi to get it right.

Doyle's efforts to negotiate new gaming compacts with the state's Indian tribes have been not just controversial but, frequently, flawed. For instance, the 2003 compact between the state and the Potawatomi was thrown out after the state Supreme Court ruled that the governor had exceeded his authority when he agreed to perpetual compacts and allowed the Potawatomi and other tribes to expand their games to include roulette, poker and craps.

The new compact addresses one of the concerns raised by the court, in that this is not a perpetual agreement. But it is reasonable to ask whether a deal that lasts for a quarter century is still too long to provide necessary oversight."

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Editor: Tinker with the gaming compact (The Madison Capital Times 10/7)