Witnesses set to testify at congressional hearing on off-reservation casinos proposed in Michigan

2.04.08

Kilpatrick to testify against Indian casinos

David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick will testify before the House Natural Resources Committee here Wednesday to oppose a bill to allow Indian casinos in Romulus and Port Huron, the committee announced Monday.

Two bills in Congress would allow Indian-run casinos to directly compete with Detroit's three casinos. Five Michigan lawmakers will testify on both sides of the issue.

Kilpatrick's mother, Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick, D-Detroit, will testify in opposition as well, while three other Michigan lawmakers will support the proposed new casinos.

The event will mark Mayor Kilpatrick's first appearance outside Michigan since his public apology over the release of text messages suggesting he wasn't truthful when he denied having an affair with his then-chief of staff, Christine Beatty, in a civil lawsuit. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy is investigating whether the mayor or Beatty committed perjury.

Also testifying Wednesday at the House hearing are Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, who supports locating a casino in Romulus in Port Huron, and two Republicans, Rep. Mike Rogers of Brighton and Candice Miller of Harrison Township.

Miller supports the plan to locate a casino in Port Huron, while Rogers opposes the new casinos and wants an assessment of the economic impact of two casinos on Metro Detroit before they are approved.

"These are not going to be a net winner," Rogers said Monday.

Jeff Parker, president of the executive council of the Bay Mills Indian Community in Brimley, Mich., and Aaron Payment, chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., are going to testify.

The two bills being considered would allow two new casinos in Port Huron and Romulus in exchange for resolving land claims around Charlotte Beach in the Upper Peninsula.

Also testifying at Wednesday's hearing are the mayors of Romulus, Alan R. Lambert; and Mark Neal, of Port Huron; along with Joe Conroy, director of government operations for the city of Flint.

You can reach David Shepardson at (202) 662 - 8735 or dshepardson@detnews.com.

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