What could be likened to hardball negotiations between an
online buyer and an online seller, Washington Governor,
Christine Gregoire, advised the Washington Gambling Commission
to withdraw its proposal that would help to expand the casino
gambling reach of the Spokane tribe. She also urged to
the Commission to express her concerns, and to further discuss
the matter for possible amendment.
In other words, Governor
Gregoire is open to the idea of the Spokane tribe operating
casino facilities - she just does not want the tribe to get
too ambitious. Gregoire specifically mentioned the parts
of the proposal that would permit the tribe to operate up to
7,500 new slot machines, as well as build a casino on land
that was not on their reservation.
The Spokane tribe really has
no say to defend this request, for Gregoire is the lone portal
to getting their legislation to the Federal government.
If she is displeased with the bill, there is no pushing the
issue. However, in this case, Gregoire asked the
Gambling Commission to open negotiations again - only this
time around, there would be limits to the casino proposal.
An attorney for the Spokane
tribe commented that getting on line with the governor's
stance will not be hard to do - and that the Tribe does not
see this as a roadblock - but more as a phase in the
negotiation process that must inevitably happen. |
