The
Senate Indian Affairs
Committee held a confirmation hearing this morning for Tracie Stevens to be chairman of the
National Indian Gaming Commission.
Stevens, a member of the
Tulalip Tribes of Washington, was warmly embraced by the committee.
Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-North Dakota), the chairman, vowed to act on the nomination "very quickly."
The only major issue raised during the hearing was the regulation of Class III games such as slot machines and table games. In what is known as the
CRIT decision, the
D.C. Circuit Court of
Appeals has ruled that the NIGC lacks authority to regulate Class III gaming.
The court said the
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act leaves that role to tribes and states.
The Bush administration supported a "fix" to the decision but Stevens did not endorse a Congressional response and instead said she would reach out to tribes on the issue. She pointed out that some tribes have stringent Class III regulations in place.
On a secondary issue, Stevens declined to express a view on off-reservation gaming. She said the
Interior Department is primarily responsible for determining whether land is placed in trust.
"Off-reservation gaming ... has occurred in very few numbers historically," Stevens told the committee. "However I do realize it's a contentious issue."
The hearing lasted about 55 minutes. Audio clips are available below.
• Opening Remarks
Panel 1
• Testimony |
Q&A
Brian Cladoosby, Chairman of the Swinomish Tribe of
Washington and President of the Affilliated Tribe of the Northwest
Indians
Tracie L. Stevens, nominee
Committee Notice:
HEARING on
the President’s Nomination of Tracie L. Stevens to serve as Chairman of the
National Indian Gaming Commission (May 26, 2010)
White House Announcement:
President
Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts (White House 4/28)
Related Stories:
Senate confirmation hearing for Tracie
Stevens to run NIGC (5/25)
Senate
confirmation hearing for Tracie Stevens to head NIGC (5/14)
Tulalip woman awaits confirmation hearing
as head of NIGC (5/11)
NIGC's
acting general counsel to retire from post on July 2 (5/5)
New leader of NIGC might bring in a new
general counsel (4/30)
Obama
nominates Tulalip woman for NIGC chairman post (4/29)
NIGC complete for now with Daniel Little as
last member (4/21)
NIGC nominee
denies online posts that criticized Obama (4/16)
Blog: NIGC nominee may have bashed Obama on
Internet (4/6)
Comment period
for NIGC appointment closes March 29 (3/10)
EchoHawk names three members of DC team (7/31)
EchoHawk bringing in his team to Washington
(7/20)
