The issue of prohibiting the construction of new casinos in Glendale came to Congress

The issue of prohibiting the construction of new casinos in Glendale came to Congress Last Thursday, a U.S. House of Representatives panel passed a proposal from the Arizona Republican Party to ban Toh...

The issue of banning new casinos in Glendale comes to Congress. On Thursday, a U.S. House of Representatives panel passed a proposal from the Arizona Republican Party to ban the state's Tohono O'odham tribe from building new casinos in Glendale. Leaders of the Glendale and Valley Indian tribes applauded the move, while leaders from the Peoria and Tohono O’odham tribes were furious, saying the ban broke voters’ commitment to their tribes. In 1960, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the Pictured Rock Dam on the Gila River, causing flooding of 9,880 acres of tribal land, destroying 750 acres of farms, and severely affecting the Tohono O’odham Tribe’s income. After strong demands from members of the state's Congress, the U.S. Congress passed a bill in 1986 that gave the Tohono O'odham tribe $300,000 to purchase a total of 9,880 acres of reservation land in Pima, Pinal and Maricopa counties as compensation. The Tohono O’odham Tribe purchased 135 acres in Maricopa County between Peoria and Glendale with the intention of building a casino. The plan pitted voters in both cities at loggerheads. Peoria Mayor Bob Barrett believes the casino plan could create an affordable resort. But Glendale officials say the tribe's plans for the casino interfered with the construction of the city's sports and entertainment district, ultimately slowing down tax revenues and affecting the entire city's economy. City leaders and some residents had strong objections to the casino's location, saying it was unthinkable that a tribe would build a casino across from a high school. Glendale voters vote against casino construction. The ban proposal was introduced by Arizona Republican Rep. Terron Franks and passed the House Natural Resources Committee 32-11. The state has two representatives serving on the committee, Republican Paul Gosha and Democratic Raul Griava. Gosha supported the proposal, while Griava voted against it. If a tribe wants to build a casino, it must obtain approval from the Ministry of Interior. At this time, Interior Ministry officials said the Franks proposal violated the 1986 law. The law at the time should have been that the land purchased by the Tohono O’odham Tribe “shall be treated as a federal Indian reservation for purposes,” including gaming. According to current Arizona law, the greater Phoenix Valley area can accommodate up to seven reservation casinos, and the casino plan proposed by the Tohono O’odham Tribe is the eighth. In addition, the Tohono O’odham Tribe already operates two casinos in the state, and this is the third one proposed. It is not yet clear whether the House of Representatives has passed the draft, and it is estimated that the Republicans will not create many difficulties. But it's hard to say when it comes to the Democratic-dominated Senate.