Casino news from http://politicsupdates.blogs.oregonlive.com/
WASHINGTON -- In his latest attempt to block a casino in Cascade Locks, Rep. David Wu, D-Ore., wants to amend an Indian gaming bill scheduled to move to the House floor today.
Unfortunately for Wu, the bill, is on the suspension calendar, which means that it cannot be amended before being voted on by the U.S. House.
Since Wu learned of this on Friday, he has been calling many of his colleagues -- 160 as of Tuesday afternoon -- to attempt to get their support to remove the bill from the suspension calendar and allow amendments. To succeed, Wu needs one-third of representative voting and present to support his fight.
The bill would amend the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to prohibit Indian tribes from acquiring land that is not contiguous to their reservation and building a casino on it. Currently, such projects may be approved by the Interior Department.
But the act grandfathers in many existing proposals, including the plan for the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs to build a casino at Cascade Locks. Wu wants to amend the bill and prohibit casinos within a mile of wilderness areas, national parks or national scenic areas.
"There is a problem with the proliferation of off-reservation gambling casinos, but I want to be clear that's not the issue I'm taking on," Wu said. "That's a struggle that other folks may really want to fight about. What I passionately care about is the issue of the Columbia River Gorge."
Backers of the Warm Springs plan say Wu is opposing them because he supports the Confederated Tribes of the Grande Ronde, which operates Sprit Mountain casino. But Wu said Grande Ronde isn't in his district and his sole concern is protecting the Columbia River Gorge.
"If Warm Springs wanted to site it anywhere else other than Columbia River Gorge," Wu said, "I would not be putting up the fight that I am."
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