NAN A. S. HAYWORTH: “Mr. Chairman, I rise as part of this bipartisan opposition to the amendment offered by my friend, the gentleman from…”

“Mr. Chairman, I rise as part of this bipartisan opposition to the amendment offered by my friend, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon). Mr. Chairman, here we go again. It would be especially appropriate to remember the words written in this document, in article I, section 8, where the Constitution states as follows, ``the Congress shall have the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several States and with the Indian tribes.'' Mr. Chairman, that articulation, that enumeration, gives tribes sovereignty and sovereign immunity. What is disturbing to hear from my good friend from Nevada earlier is the notion that somehow we should short-circuit or circumvent the process that involves the Federal Government, quite rightly, not only a body of subsequent case law but also in what this Congress has passed through the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. And when it comes to Class III gaming IGRA was never intended to give the States absolute authority in this. My friend from Florida admits it is before the courts right now. The process is working. I need not lecture my friends in elementary civics. We understand the separation of powers. Tonight we can reaffirm that separation, the sanctity of the judicial process and the promise already given by the appropriate authority vis-a-vis IGRA when we reject the Weldon amendment.”