"There are a lot of people with a real stake in the Interior Department's decision to approve new tribal trust land in the middle of Glendale, which opens the door to a huge, new casino-resort there.

The Gila River Indian Community, whose existing casino operations are threatened by this manufactured competition, has much to lose by that decision. Which is why the tribe has filed suit.

Glendale, which surrounds the property owned by the southern Arizona Tohono O'odham Nation, has an immediate interest in the impact of such a huge enterprise plopped unexpectedly into its backyard. Which is why the city has filed its own suit.

State Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, is not such an interested party.

Pearce, who clearly is reveling in his newfound national reputation as an anti-illegal-immigration boilermaker, wants to diversify. He wants to join the lawsuit against the Interior Department over its decision to approve new trust land at 91st and Northern avenues. He should be politely but firmly refused.

The idea of the lawsuits, after all, is to win, not to hog a larger fraction of the media spotlight by attaching to yet another controversial issue."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Russell Pearce needs to butt out of federal suit (The Arizona Republic 10/25)

Relevant Documents:
Federal Register Notice: Land Acquisitions; Tohono O'odham Nation, Arizona (August 26, 2010)
Larry Echo Hawk Letter to Tohono O'odham Nation (July 23, 2010)

Related Stories:
State lawmaker wants to enter Tohono O'odham casino lawsuit (10/20)
Mayor says Tohono O'odham Nation casino will hurt community (10/8)
Tohono O'odham Nation seeks IGRA exception in bid for casino (10/4)
City wants consent over Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino (9/30)
Editorial: Tribes, off-reservation casinos and urban communities (9/27)
City files lawsuit to stop Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino (9/22)
Gila River Indian Community sues to stop Tohono O'odham casino (9/17)
City prepares lawsuit for Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino (9/9)
Editorial: The good and bad in proposed Tohono O'odham casino (8/23)
City plans suit on Tohono O'odham Nation off-reservation casino (8/9)
Editorial: Tohono O'odham Nation mocks voters with bid for casino (8/2)
BIA will acquire off-reservation parcel for Tohono O'odham Nation (7/26)
Hearing scheduled in Tohono O'odham Nation casino lawsuit (5/19)
Gila River Tribe asks to join Tohono O'odham casino lawsuit (5/17)
Bill targeting Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino dead (5/12)
Bill that targets Tohono O'odham Nation casino advances (4/13)
Bill against Tohono O'odham Nation casino back on agenda (4/8)
Poll backs Tohono O'odham Nation off-reservation casino (4/2)
Gila River Tribe slams Tohono O'odham off-reservation bid (4/1)
Tohono O'odham Nation hails end to anti-casino measure (3/30)
Lawmaker halts bill that targeted Tohono O'odham casino (3/29)
Editorial: Casino foes seek to steal Tohono O'odham land (3/24)
Tohono O'odham Nation sues over off-reservation casino (3/23)
Tohono O'odham Nation slams bill targeting casino bid (3/18)
Vote planned on bill targeting Tohono O'odham casino (3/16)
Tohono O'odham Nation loses ruling in gaming site case (3/12)
NCAI joins Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino fight (3/9)
Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino bid still at BIA (3/8)
Bill affects Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino bid (2/26)
Bill targets Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino bid (2/3)
Tohono O'odham Nation 'more committed' to casino (1/28)
Sen. Kyl voices opposition to Tohono O'odham casino (1/27)
McCain joins opposition to off-reservation casino bid (1/21)
Tohono O'odham Nation won't drop off-reservation bid (1/20)