VEILED THREATS AGAINST THE PUEBLOS BY NAVAJO PRESIDENT
During the meetings of the Committee on Compacts, where the committee heard and discussed the compact deal that was worked out by the Navajo leaders and Governor Martinez’ representative, the pueblos and the other tribes were united in testifying against the approval of the Navajo compact.
Although the compact was finally sent to the whole legislature by the Committee on Compacts, it was finally stopped in the Senate by a 31 to 11 vote against the compact. The current Navajo compact will expire the 30th of June in 2015, and could result in federal closure of its remaining two Class III and one Class II casinos if they don’t get a new compact approved by the legislature, the governor, and the Department of the Interior in that time. It is unlikely that the legislature is going to approve three additional casinos in the 2015 legislative session, unless the Navajos can muster more political clout than all the gambling pueblos and other gambling tribes.
Revealing his frustration, Governor Ben Shelly was quoted by the Associated Press as saying, “I thought we were unified in everything we do. I don’t know what happened to them. I guess greed and business is what happened.” He said, “I think this is going to be a big thing. They made a big mistake, the pueblos, by what they did.”
It always makes it more fun and interesting when the various gambling elements are at war with each other. Especially when it derails the pattern of gambling expansion in the state.
An article about the story in The Republic can be viewed here.
