John McCain

The thing that was distressing to me, though, was that in the very beginning there was a half hour conversation.

The Nation is deeply disappointed that Congress is even considering this legislation--a bill that shows no respect for the clear terms of agreements negotiated between sovereign governments.

There was never ever any intention in their mind that this would ever be an issue.

Well, Mayor Weiers, you find yourself in the minority here. Maybe you can tell us how that happened, going from the majority to the minority on this issue.

Actually what you have done is refuse to answer questions before this Committee. I am not sure why you came.

If enacted, this legislation will effect a profound injustice upon the Tohono O'odham Nation, one that will besmirch the United States' honor and set a terrible precedent for its relationship with Indian Country.

S. 2670, the Keep the Promises Act, is a narrowly tailored bill that preserves the agreement that was made with voters in 2002.

Did it have any reference to gaming?

Clearly, by any measurement, this tribe is not impoverished.

So you won't tell us how impoverished you are. I got it.

One of the compact's terms was that this compact, the final agreement for the parties on these issues, and introducing new terms after everybody agreed that they have agreed on all the terms, is definitely a change in the promise.

That is really, really good, Mr. Washburn. I don't have any more questions for this witness.

I interpret it as not ever intending to have a gaming operation in the middle of an incorporated area without the permission of the people.

Well, they are certainly not impoverished, Mr. Washburn.

This is a really huge issue in my State, particularly in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

The Tohono O'odham tribe isn't one of those. It isn't one of those.

Isn't that kind of technical, because it is in the middle of the city of Glendale?

This Indian Gaming Regulatory Act did not mention Tohono O'odham and it indeed included a specific provision that allows an exception to the prohibition on gaming

I am proud of that Act, and I am proud of the benefit that it has accrued to Indian Country.

I can assure you, and I can assure the witness, it was never the intent of Senator Inouye and I, through weeks and months of hearings, to have air-dropped, no matter what rationale you are using for it, because of some settlement, to have…

We need to keep our promises to Indian Country.

So it made no reference to gaming itself.

Three casinos is a modest revenue source.

In other words, you just falsely gave the Committee the impression as if the Tohono O'odham was an impoverished tribe without Indian gaming.

We received witness after witness, particularly from various States that had large Native American communities, that said, look, we are all for Indian gaming.