8.06.07Mid-Hudson News Network
Washington – There is a full court press on Interior Secretary Kempthorne in an effort to pursuade him to approve an off-reservation Native American casino at Monticello.
Most recently, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, which wants to build the facility, asked the secretary for a sit-down to discuss it with him.
US Senator Charles Schumer is also in the lobbying effort. He met with Kempthorne recently and told him he wants to justify why the secretary should sign off on it.
"He has a western view of things where the reservations are thousands of miles," he said. Kempthorne told Schumer he had 32 off-reservation casino applications and if he does the Monticello proposal, he would have to do them all. Schumer asked him to “let us show you why this one is different.” The catch is Schumer has his staff researching all 32 applications.
If Kempthorne is leaning toward disapproval of the application, Schumer would just as soon have him wait.
"If it’s going to be a bad decision, and I don’t know that it is at this point, it might be better to wait rather than to get a ‘no’ and have to start everything all over, but we’re not ready for that yet."
If approved, the casino would be built in partnership with Empire Resorts, owners of Monticello Raceway, which already has a video slot machine operation at the track.
Washington – There is a full court press on Interior Secretary Kempthorne in an effort to pursuade him to approve an off-reservation Native American casino at Monticello.
Most recently, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, which wants to build the facility, asked the secretary for a sit-down to discuss it with him.
US Senator Charles Schumer is also in the lobbying effort. He met with Kempthorne recently and told him he wants to justify why the secretary should sign off on it.
"He has a western view of things where the reservations are thousands of miles," he said. Kempthorne told Schumer he had 32 off-reservation casino applications and if he does the Monticello proposal, he would have to do them all. Schumer asked him to “let us show you why this one is different.” The catch is Schumer has his staff researching all 32 applications.
If Kempthorne is leaning toward disapproval of the application, Schumer would just as soon have him wait.
"If it’s going to be a bad decision, and I don’t know that it is at this point, it might be better to wait rather than to get a ‘no’ and have to start everything all over, but we’re not ready for that yet."
If approved, the casino would be built in partnership with Empire Resorts, owners of Monticello Raceway, which already has a video slot machine operation at the track.
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