Carcieri Fix NOT Passed in Senate--Charlestown Spared Casino

This from the Charlestown Citizens Alliance --

Greetings!

The Carcieri Fix - the move to overturn a Supreme Court ruling in which Charlestown was spared a casino - has NOT been passed in the Senate. Members of the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee (CDTC) recently wrote that the Carcieri Fix had passed. This is NOT true. One CDTC member also wrote that he was not in fear of a Carcieri Fix passing. CCA presumes that the CDTC Town Council candidates would not be in fear of the Fix either--please remember this at election time. Having a Carcieri Fix approved opens the door to a casino in Charlestown--it's that simple. As you know, CCA Town Council candidates are adamantly opposed to a casino/gaming in Charlestown. Perhaps the CDTC and its candidates will be disappointed that the Carcieri Fix was not passed--CCA is thrilled that it was not passed! Here's what really happened: Senator Daniel Akaka of Hawaii, a proponent of a Carcieri fix and chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, put a hold on consideration of the HEARTH Act (Helping expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership) in an attempt to force the Senate to consider a Carcieri Fix. As Committee Chairman he can stop legislation from getting out of committee and to the full Senate. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada is the Senate Majority Leader. In an unusual move Senator Reid hotlined the bill to the full Senate over the head of Senator Akaka, without the Carcieri fix language. Without language to overturn Carcieri, the legislation passed the Senate by unanimous consent and now heads to the House.

"Carcieri Fix" STILL IN HOUSE VERSION - PLEASE CALL

The information below is offered by the Rhode Island group, but the so-called "Carcieri Fix" applies to all states.

Please continue to speak out.

GOOD NEWS - The Senate dropped a provision in the spending bill that would have allowed the Narragansett tribe to secure federal trust status for their land in Charlestown, opening a door for a casino. Thanks go to Senators Reed and Whitehouse for accomplishing this!!



BAD NEWS - The House's spending bill STILL includes a measure reversing the Supreme Court ruling protecting Charlestown from a casino. This means a confrontation between the Senate vs. the House and the Obama administration who wants the reversal.



What Can YOU Do?



CONTINUE to send emails to your representatives and Senators. (SEE SAMPLE EMAIL BELOW) IF you live in another state, also contact those representatives and Senators. Ask them to get the language out of the House bill that allows the Narragansett tribe to secure federal trust status for their land in Charlestown.



Rep. Jim Langevin - https://langevin.house.gov/contact/email-me.shtml
Sen. Jack Reed - http://reed.senate.gov/contact/contact-share.cfm
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse - http://whitehouse.senate.gov/contact/



Looking for other state reps--go here: http://www.house.gov/



SAMPLE EMAIL - Dear Representative:

The so-called "Carcieri fix" was attached to the House Continuing Resolution bill necessary to keep the government running after this month. The "fix" would allow land to be taken into federal trust for an Indian tribe in Rhode Island for the fist time in the state's constitutional history, with the possibility of a federalized casino in Charlestown. In the counter Senate Appropriations bill, the "fix" was removed. Please do all you can to ensure the it does not become law through the backdoor in negotiations between the Senate and the House over a final appropriations bill!



Your emails really make a difference!!



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Charlestown Citizens Alliance Steering Committee
PO Box 81, Charlestown, RI 02813
Website: http://charlestowncitizens.org

RI: 2 AM Vote? Only Cover of Darkness?

Much like the Massachusetts House wouldn't allow a public hearing on a bill crafted with lobbyists behind closed doors, or the Massachusetts Senate scheduled a public hearing carefully scripted so that opponents were heard AFTER the news cycle, Rhode Island legislators voted at 2 AM.

When the process isn't transparent, public and above board, something is being hidden.

From the Charlestown Citizens Alliance --

In the middle of the night, the RI General Assembly voted to put a referendum on the November ballot to ask voters if they want full blown casinos in RI. RI voters have voted several times on this and voted NO, the last being in 2006.

Read about it on our site at:

The following news stories are from our news page: http://www.charlestowncitizens.org/stories.html

Date: June 12, 2010
Source: The Providence Journal
Subject: Casino referendum wins 2 a.m. General Assembly approval - also lawmakers approved a bill to increase penalties for “habitual traffic offenders.”

Date: June 12, 2010
Source: The Providence Journal
Subject: This is how each member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives voted on the casino question


Mud Cove Update The Town has prepared a new Mud Cove Master Plan