Oklahoma Congressman Introduces Bill Giving Cities A Say In Casino Location

Oklahoma Congressman John Sullivan has introduced legislation he says will allow communities to have a say before a casino is built.

The Giving Local Communities a Voice in Tribal Gaming Act of 2012 or H.R. 4033 stems from what Sullivan says is his fight to keep Kialegee Tribal Town from building the Red Clay Casino in Broken Arrow.

"What I am doing is very simple, I am giving local government officials and the people they represent a chance to have their voice heard before a casino can set up shop in their neighborhood. Right now, there is no formal avenue for them to express their concerns or have those concerns taken into consideration.  Look at what is happening with the Kialegee Tribal Town Casino, the people of Broken Arrow are outraged not to have a say about what goes on in their local community, and they should be. My goal with this legislation is to ensure that situations like the Kialegee Tribal Town Casino never happen again. As I have said before, I am deeply concerned this precedent setting situation could lead to the opening of Pandora's box where Indian land can be leased by private contractors to open up casino's anywhere they please –regardless of the churches, schools and homes that may be right across the street. We cannot allow that to happen without ensuring all citizens within a community are given equal consideration under the law," said John Sullivan.

Congressman John Sullivan says his bill would give individual localities 120 days to formally object to a proposed gaming site, following announcement of the proposed site or approval from the National Indian Gaming Commission or U.S. Department of Interior.

"This legislation is not about stopping tribes from using gaming as an economic development tool. This is about formally preserving the long standing positive working relationship between tribes and local communities that we value in Oklahoma," said John Sullivan.

He says the Kialegee Tribal Town decided to move forward with its casino despite strong objections from Broken Arrow.

Sullivan says the process to used by the Kialegee Tribal Town was not conducted in an open and transparent manner.

1/18/2012 Related Story: Oklahoma Congressman Says Tribe Does Not Have Permit To Build Casino