Blue Corn Comics -- Stereotype of the Month Entry

Stereotype of the Month Entry
(1/29/06)

From the Lansing State Journal:

Published January 29, 2006

Michael Jandernoa: Moratorium, reform badly needed for tribal casinos

Federal Indian gaming laws are broken, outdated, and being manipulated by special interests to the extent that our federal government is embroiled in the biggest scandal in recent history.

Proliferation of tribal gaming is running roughshod over states' rights, local control and voter mandate.

This virtually unregulated industry is leeching jobs and jeopardizing the future of our already battered state economy.

Congressman Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, has recognized this and called for a two-year moratorium on all new tribal gaming until investigations are complete and federal laws are reformed to protect the integrity of our government and public interests. Rather than applaud Rogers for unselfish and responsible legislating, the LSJ editorial board has accused Rogers' moratorium of being nothing more than an attempt to please Republican loyalists.

We dissent to the LSJ's Jan. 12 editorial. The LSJ's logic is flawed, and editors appear to be blinded by the bright lights and empty promises of a potential downtown Lansing casino.

Whether Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff thwarted or promoted tribal casinos is not the issue. His actions show that our federal laws have been exploited and corrupted. Abramoff was not the only hired gun in Washington manipulating Congress on behalf of tribal gaming interests, just the first to get caught.

With this $19 billion industry spending millions on political donations and teams of lobbyists and lawyers, it certainly raises the question: How widespread is the corruption?

How can the president, secretary of interior and Congress allow any new tribal gaming developments until they know the full extent of the problem, and the manipulation of gaming, campaign finance and lobbying laws?

It is irresponsible for this newspaper to suggest action is not needed to investigate an industry that is racked with corruption and a federal system that is unaccountable and being manipulated by special interests.

The LSJ's most audacious and misleading statement is that "Michigan has signed off on casinos." Michigan voters overwhelming approved Proposal 1, which curbed gambling expansion and protected local control. This clear public mandate sent the message to Gov. Jennifer Granholm and our lawmakers that it's time to stop casino expansion.

Tribal casinos were exempt from Proposal 1 due to federal constitutionality issues. The fact that the federal court sided with a tribe seeking to build a casino, despite overwhelming citizen opposition, is exactly why reforms are needed to protect states' rights, local control and the well-being of Michigan families.

This is also why the Michigan Senate, with a bipartisan majority, rescinded support for the proposed Gun Lake tribal casino.

This is why 14 presidents of higher education institutions in West Michigan wrote a letter to Granholm urging her to stop casino expansion.

This is why a bipartisan coalition of state House members wrote Granholm and urged her to stop casino expansion and fight for federal reforms.

Michigan voters, community leaders, and lawmakers have all been united in their cries to stop casino proliferation. We should applaud Congressman Rogers for defying big-money interests and doing what is right for Michigan.

Michael Jandernoa is chairman of "23 is Enough," a Grand Rapids-based group opposed to casino expansion.

Rob's reply
>> Proliferation of tribal gaming is running roughshod over states' rights, local control and voter mandate. <<

State and local governments don't have more rights than tribal governments. Why should the former be able to control the latter, as they've done for decades?

>> This virtually unregulated industry is leeching jobs and jeopardizing the future of our already battered state economy. <<

False. Indian gaming is highly regulated and it generally creates jobs.

>> Whether Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff thwarted or promoted tribal casinos is not the issue. His actions show that our federal laws have been exploited and corrupted. <<

Almost any law can be exploited and corrupted. The solution is to stop the exploiters and corrupters, not to eliminate viable laws.

>> With this $19 billion industry spending millions on political donations and teams of lobbyists and lawyers, it certainly raises the question: How widespread is the corruption? <<

Since the gaming industry as a whole is about three times larger than the Indian gaming industry, I wonder if the industry as a whole is three times as corrupt. Jandernoa doesn't ask that question, which suggests his anti-Indian agenda.

>> How can the president, secretary of interior and Congress allow any new tribal gaming developments until they know the full extent of the problem, and the manipulation of gaming, campaign finance and lobbying laws? <<

Based on this "logic," why don't we shut down government altogether? How can we trust politicians when we don't know the full extent of the manipulation of campaign finance and lobbying laws? Because the vast majority of such manipulation has nothing to do with Indians or gaming.

>> It is irresponsible for this newspaper to suggest action is not needed to investigate an industry that is racked with corruption <<

What corruption? You mean the singular Abramoff scandal? Where's the evidence of any other corruption?

Readers respond
"The 'leaching jobs' criticism appears to be nothing more than a slam at the casinos for employing people!"

* More opinions *

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