Class III Gaming Compact

Michigan House Approves Gun Lake Compact

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From AP:

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The state will get a slice of revenue from a planned Native American casino southwest of Grand Rapids, thanks to a deal approved by both chambers of the Legislature.

The House approved a resolution on the compact with the Gun Lake tribe by a voice vote Thursday. A similar resolution was approved by the Senate earlier this month.

The 2007 compact was negotiated between the tribe and Gov. Jennifer Granholm. The federal government put 147 acres of land into trust for the casino in Allegan County’s Wayland Township this year.

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Florida House of Representatives Opposition to Cert Petition

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the respondent’s response to the cert petition filed in Seminole Tribe v. Florida House of Reps.

Seminole Tribe v. Florida House of Representatives Cert Petition

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

Is here — seminole-tribe-v-florida-house-of-representatives-cert-petition

Here is the Florida Supreme Court’s decision and a link to the briefs below.

Florida Supreme Court Rejects Seminole Compact

Matthew L.M. Fletcher2 Comments

In Florida House of Representatives v. Crist, the Florida Supreme Court held that Gov. Crist did not have authority to bind the State with a Class III gaming compact. We’ve posted the briefs here.

Odawa Casino Revenue Sharing Numbers

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

For the article, see here. An excerpt:

When handing out the latest community proceeds from local Indian gaming, the Emmet County Local Revenue Sharing Board had about $250,000 more to work with than in the previous round.

This spring, the board used a new, more specific framework to allocate money, one which put the largest funding awards in categories such as infrastructure and education.

Local governments appoint the three-member board to allocate gaming dollars twice a year. Under its gaming compact with Michigan, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians must make 2 percent of electronic gaming receipts from its casino available to the community.

The latest payout — about $840,000 — included gaming receipts from July-December 2007, up from $590,000 in the previous round. In June 2007, the tribe opened the Odawa Casino Resort to replace its smaller Victories Casino.

Pokagon Revenue Sharing Dispute Under Negotiation

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the Michigan City News-Dispatch:

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. – Negotiations between the state and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians to resolve problems blocking the distribution of casino revenue to local governments should wrap up in 60 to 90 days, a tribal official said.

The tribe, saying it was concerned over actions taken in forming the Local Revenue Sharing Board and its bylaws, withheld in escrow the first payment from electronic gambling earnings at the Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo Township. The payment was due in December.

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Florida S.Ct. Seminole Compact Case — Oral Argument

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

The Florida Supreme Court held oral argument yesterday (H/T Indianz) on the state law challenge to the Class III compact executed by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. You can listen here.

Here are some of the major materials in House of Representatives v. Crist (the rest are at this link):

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Florida Seminole Compact — Fla. AG Request for Injunction on DOI Approval of Compact

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Yesterday, the federal court in DC denied a motion for a preliminary injunction filed by the Florida AG Bill McCollum that would have prevented the Secretary of Interior from publishing the approval of the Class III gaming compact between the Florida Seminoles and the State of Florida.

Here are the materials:

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Florida S.Ct. Seminole Compact Case Materials — Update

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the reply brief filed by the Fla. House of Representatives: Reply Brief

Links to the previous briefs filed in this case can be found here.

Pokagon Casino Revenue Sharing

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From Mlive:

NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — The American Indian tribe that owns the new Four Winds Casino Resort in extreme southwestern Michigan is withholding its first revenue-sharing payments from local governments and school districts.

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians says it has concerns about the organization of the board that is to oversee the distribution of the estimated $3 million a year in payments.