Editorial: Demanding answers from BIA on Cowlitz casino project

Wednesday, February 9, 2011  

"Jaime Herrera Beutler wasted little time tackling one of the most important issues in the 3rd Congressional District. Less than one month on the job as U.S. Representative, Herrera Beutler challenged the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ decision to allow the Cowlitz Tribe to place 152 acres near La Center into trust for a future tribal casino. Her activism is an encouraging sign for anyone interested in preserving Clark County’s quality of life, which would diminish with the construction of a Las Vegas-style megacasino.

The decision from the BIA, an agency of the U.S. Interior Department, was issued on Dec. 17. Herrera Beutler was sworn in on Jan. 5. On Feb. 1, she wrote a letter to Assistant Interior Secretary Larry Echo Hawk, expressing concerns that his decision was “inappropriately influenced” by the tribe and represented an “end run around congressional decision-making.”

The Congressional rookie wrote like a seasoned veteran about other troubling aspects of the BIA decision:"

Get the Story:
In our view: Speaking Up, Already (The Columbian 2/9)

Related Stories:
Rep. Herrera Beutler questions BIA about Cowlitz casino approval (2/8)
City staying away from litigation over Cowlitz Tribe casino project (2/2)
Lawsuit filed to stop Cowlitz Tribe casino land-into-trust application (2/1)
Litigation expected to delay Cowlitz casino by at least 18 months (1/28)
Land-into-trust issues cloud gaming plans for at least two tribes (1/25)
Editorial: County made right call to challenge Cowlitz Tribe casino (1/21)
County votes to file lawsuit against Cowlitz Tribe casino approval (1/13)
County considers possible appeal against Cowlitz Tribe casino bid (1/12)
Mohegan Tribe welcomes land-into-trust ruling on Cowlitz casino (1/11)
BIA decision on Cowlitz casino resolves land-into-trust questions (1/7)
BIA approves land-into-trust application for Cowlitz Tribe casino (12/23)