Feds send Mashpee casino compact back to the negotiating table
Taunton —
The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs has rejected the tribal-state compact that the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe needs to have in place before proceeding with plans to build a tribal casino in Taunton.
The BIA, an office under the umbrella of the Department of the Interior, has sent the agreement back for further negotiations, both state and tribal officials said Friday afternoon.
“By rejecting the agreement on the grounds of the revenue share and our acceptance of the Tribe's request to separately negotiate its tribal hunting and fishing rights, Interior is substituting its judgment for the Tribe’s,” Gov. Deval Patrick said in a statement. “I believe Interior's approach is outdated and does not adequately take into account our unique circumstances here in Massachusetts.”
When the compact was announced this summer, some speculated that the federal government wouldn’t look favorably upon a provision in the document that would send 21.5 percent of tribal gaming revenue to the state. States are not allowed to tax tribal entities under federal law.
“The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has notified the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe that our Tribal-State Compact will need to be further negotiated before it can be approved. While disappointing, this possibility was anticipated in our agreement with the Commonwealth, which requires that we return to the negotiating table immediately to address the outstanding issues in the Compact and come to a revised agreement,” Mashpee Tribal Chairman Cedric Cromwell said in a statement. “We believe that these issues can be resolved quickly and cooperatively, and the Compact can be re-submitted to the BIA for swift action.”
Check back for more details.
The BIA, an office under the umbrella of the Department of the Interior, has sent the agreement back for further negotiations, both state and tribal officials said Friday afternoon.
“By rejecting the agreement on the grounds of the revenue share and our acceptance of the Tribe's request to separately negotiate its tribal hunting and fishing rights, Interior is substituting its judgment for the Tribe’s,” Gov. Deval Patrick said in a statement. “I believe Interior's approach is outdated and does not adequately take into account our unique circumstances here in Massachusetts.”
Ayup!
When the compact was announced this summer, some speculated that the federal government wouldn’t look favorably upon a provision in the document that would send 21.5 percent of tribal gaming revenue to the state. States are not allowed to tax tribal entities under federal law.
“The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has notified the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe that our Tribal-State Compact will need to be further negotiated before it can be approved. While disappointing, this possibility was anticipated in our agreement with the Commonwealth, which requires that we return to the negotiating table immediately to address the outstanding issues in the Compact and come to a revised agreement,” Mashpee Tribal Chairman Cedric Cromwell said in a statement. “We believe that these issues can be resolved quickly and cooperatively, and the Compact can be re-submitted to the BIA for swift action.”
Check back for more details.
Read more: http://www.tauntongazette.com/news/x470402654/Feds-send-Mashpee-casino-compact-back-to-the-negotiating-table#ixzz297h0POAT
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