Resist pressure for more gaming

Gov. Brian Schweitzer said it well for many Montanans when he announced recently, "I'm a friend of Indian Country, but I'm not a friend of gaming."

Schweitzer added, "I do not support expanded gaming anyplace in Montana and I will not support expanded gaming" on the Flathead Reservation.

As a result of the governor's hard line - and the tribes' - gaming has now virtually halted on the Salish and Kootenai Tribes' reservation. Only the tribally owned KwaTaqNuk resort is open for gambling, running its Rocket Bingo machines.

The problem is that gambling on Indian reservations, particularly Class III gaming which includes the popular keno and poker machines, is regulated by state-tribal compacts. The compact on the Flathead Reservation expired on Nov. 30, so the machines now have to be removed.

The state and tribes have legitimate - and large - disagreements over how much gambling should be allowed and where the revenue from gaming should go. But the first thing that can be noted about the negotiations is that both sides have acted in bad faith to some extent.

Gov. Schweitzer, though plainly an opponent of expanded gaming, should have met with tribal representatives much sooner than the 11th hour to open lines of dialogue. As for the tribes, they stubbornly refused to sign an extension of the current gaming compact that would have prevented a disruption of the gambling industry that already exists on the reservation.

Instead, the compact came to an end, and as a result, possibly 150 people are going to lose their jobs as we approach the holidays. That was not necessary. We know from previous negotiations between the state and the Flathead tribes that this impasse could last as long as two years, perhaps more. What possible benefit is there to wipe out 150 jobs for that long?

The fact of the matter is, the tribes are attempting to gain expanded gambling which will affect not just their own tribal members, but all residents of Montana.

First of all, the tribes want to assume all taxation and regulatory authority on gaming within the reservation area, thus depriving non-Indians of any representation in the process. It would also mean greatly expanded, potentially unlimited gambling, first in Class II bingo-style games, then eventually in Class III games.

The governor is correct to recognize that such unlimited gambling on the reservation would result in growing pressure to legalize the same kind of gambling in Montana's cities and towns in order to keep existing businesses competitive.

Few citizens of Montana seem to want such Las Vegas-style gambling to become the norm in Montana, and it's not just about Indian vs. non-Indian gambling. The attempt to create a commercial gambling haven in Butte failed a couple of years ago, though it no doubt would have been profitable for the community.

But let us realize that the issue will not just go away, either. As negotiations drag on between the state and the Flathead reservation authorities, so too we are approaching a new legislative session, where expanded gaming will once again be sought in a much broader context.

The Montana Tribal Gaming Association is drafting legislation that would explicitly include in tribal-state gaming compacts such Class III games as blackjack, roulette, craps and slot machines (the bill draft is available online at http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2007/lchtml/LC0356.htm). Such changes are no doubt just what the governor is worried about, and though the tribes insist they are just running a glorified form of bingo parlor, anyone who has been to the new casino in Browning can tell you that it's more like Vegas than a church parlor.

For the good of everyone, the governor and tribal authorities should be negotiating not just what will make the most money, but what will make the most sense - for the long-term well-being of all of us.