Political Quotes

“I rise in support of the Enzi amendment which restricts the Secretary of Interior's ability to move forward with a rule that would supplant a state's ability to decide what types of gaming activities would be permissible on Indian lands. The proposed rule, announced by the Secretary in January, circumvents Congress' role in deciding the framework for regulating Indian gaming. Congress is the best body to lay out the process for establishing the balanced framework for tribal state negotiations over Indian gaming. The proposed rule would upset the necessary balance and invest in the Secretary an exceptional amount of authority in deciding the outcome of these negotiations. Its effect would be the expansion of Indian Gaming notwithstanding the objections of a state. This Enzi amendment is simple and fair. It simply restricts the Interior Secretary from promulgating as final regulations a rule that would allow him to decide whether a state is negotiating with a tribe in good faith; and which types of gaming activities a state must accept on tribal lands. There is a long history to this issue and it is something that the Governors feel quite strongly about.”