Feds ditch rule that foiled Indian tribes’ plans for off-reservation casino in Catskills

(NewsNM Swickard) Not good news from those who see bad outcomes from these sorts of actions. It is about 300 miles from the Jemez Pueblo to Anthony, NM the proposed site. Perhaps Governor Martinez will protect New Mexico from bad ideas. From the Washington Post - (AP) - ALBANY, N.Y. — The Obama administration announced Tuesday it has rescinded a rule that blocked Indian tribes from building casinos far from their reservations, reviving hopes among local officials for casino gambling in the Catskills. The change overturns the so-called commutability rule, created in 2008 by then-Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne. According to the rule, a casino beyond reasonable commuting distance from a tribe’s reservation was damaging to life on the reservation because its residents would move to follow the new jobs. Under existing federal regulations, tribes must satisfy several requirements to operate an off-reservation gambling facility, including having land acquired in trust by the Department of the Interior for the benefit of the tribe; having agreement from the state’s governor; allowing public comment; and entering a tribal-state gaming compact. Read more
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