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Alabama Coushatta Tribe Pushes for Approval of Gambling Bill
On May 1, 2007, on the eve of another round of talks regarding casino gambling, the leaders of the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Tribe from East Texas pushed for the legalization of the casino facilities on Tribal land to encourage economic growth in the area.
Jo Ann Battise, the chairwoman for the Alabama-Coushatta Tribal Council, said that they believe that the approval of the gaming law is a way to help their community have better living conditions. The profits produced by gambling would go directly to health and education of the members of the tribe.
The Alabama-Coushatta Leaders said that the state's residents are already spending a total of $3 Billion in gambling activities outside of the state.
They mentioned a study commissioned by gambling supporter's shows that most of the state's residents are in favor of a gambling expansion in the state like pull-tab games, bingo and poker.
Tribal officials have been in Austin for weeks now, talking with lawmakers. They have chosen to give a statement at a news conference before the bill sponsored by Rep. Norma Chavez, a Democrat from El Paso, comes before the House.
The proposal was temporarily set aside because of an error pointed out by a gambling critic. Chavez's proposal would create a defense for the gambling activities on Indian lands that are recognized by the federal government, allowing it to restart on the Tigua Indian Tribe in El Paso and the reservation lands by the Alabama-Coushatta in Livingston, Houston.
The Kickapoo Tribe in Eagle Pass already operates a casino. On Monday, April 30, 2007, Rep. Kino Flores, a Democrat from Palmview, proposed that his fellow legislators suspend the rules and allow him to hold a public hearing regarding the video slot machine proposal.
The result of the vote could show what will be the fate of the video gambling proposal when it reaches the House. A House Committee also approved legislation that day that would allow poker at bars and restaurants in Texas.
The Tigua and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe previously ran casino facilities before they were shut down by the state. Back in 2002, the federal court agreed with John Cornyn, the former Attorney General of Texas, that the Tigua Casino violated some of the state's gambling laws so they needed to be shutdown.
The Alabama-Coushatta operated a casino facility for about 9 months, but they were forced to shut it down in 2002.
Tuesday, June 12 , 2007
Victor Copeland