FRANKS INTRODUCES BILL TO BLOCK GAMING ON NEWLY ACQUIRED RESERVATION LANDS

posted by Andrea Kelly

Several members of Arizona’s Congressional delegation are weighing in on a bill that could restrict the Tohono O’odham from building a casino near Glendale.

Arizona Congressman Trent Franks is sponsoring a bill to prevent tribes from building casinos on any land they’ve purchased in the past two decades to make up for land lost to federal flood areas. Read the bill here.

The bill is aimed at the Tohono O’odham Nation, which purchased land near Glendale, and wants to build a casino there. It would not be the only Indian casino in the Phoenix Metro area, there are already others.

In addition to Franks, the primary sponsor, four other Arizona House Republicans have signed up as cosponsors: they are Jeff Flake, Paul Gosar, Ben Quayle and David Schweikert.

Southern Arizona Democratic Congressman Raúl Grijalva said in a statement he opposes the bill because he said it opens the door to the federal government breaking other commitments and reneging on a promise to the tribes. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ office is not commenting on this legislation. Giffords' office spokesman Mark Kimble said the office is only commenting on legislation Giffords introduced in previous sessions, and this is a new bill.

Congressman Franks did not return attempts to contact him about the bill.