Political Quotes

“Thank you, Mr. Lujan. Just, I think, important points to clarify. One is that the Tohono O'odham Nation's proposed gaming facility in this land that was authorized by Congress would violate its tribal-State gaming compact, or Prop 202. The Department of the Interior has spoken clearly on this issue and confirmed in section 3(j) of the tribal-State gaming compact clearly allows the nation to develop a gaming facility on the land. Nothing in Proposition 202 would disallow the nation from gaming in the Phoenix metropolitan area, as the other five to six casinos show that there were gentlemen's agreements for no additional casinos in Phoenix. Well, there was no such side deal. The line of argument is, I think, an after-the-fact rationalization for a position that is entirely unsupported by the letter of the law. The compact has stated all elements of tribal-State gaming agreements must be embodied in the compact and must be approved by the Department of the Interior. I think that we have to look at what has not been said. The United States' breach, if this becomes law, will void the nation's release of its original land claims and open the United States to a liability that was valued at $100 million in 1986 dollars. The breach will also open the portion of the nation's original water claims settlement.…”