Rep. Kilpatrick

Local Lawmakers Receive Large Contributions from Gaming Interests

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

The Detroit News reports that several local lawmakers receive big contributions from non-Indian gaming interests. From the article:

Some of the biggest names in the gambling world are betting on the congressional futures of Detroit Democratic Reps. John Conyers and Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick.

There has been a sudden surge in contributions to the two lawmakers from casinos and, for Conyers, professional gamblers — two groups that want to expand their reach by allowing online poker for money in the United States.

Federal law prohibits U.S. financial institutions from processing payments for gambling, thereby shutting out U.S. players and businesses from the highly profitable and popular Internet gambling market.

BMIC and Sault Tribe Bills News Coverage

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From Indianz:

Michigan off-reservation gaming bills delayed

The House Natural Resources Committee was due to consider two off-reservation gaming bills on Thursday but they were delayed due to opposition from Michigan. H.R. 2176 and H.R. 4115 settle land claims for the Bay Mills Indian Community and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, respectively. The bills allow the tribes to open casinos away from their existing reservations. The bills have the support of some members of Michigan’s Congressional delegation. But Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-Michigan) opposes them and got House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) to pull them from the committee’s markup yesterday, The Detroit Free Press reported. Rep. John Conyers (D-Michigan) also opposes the legislation, the paper said. “I will not call up those bills today,” Rep. Nick Rahall (D-West Virginia), the chairman of the committee, said yesterday in response to the controversy.

Get the Story:
Casino proposals for Port Huron, Romulus on hold (The Detroit Free Press 11/15)
Dice yet to be rolled on new casinos (SooToday 11/15)