Batt Gives Thumbs Up To Indian Lottery Governor Says He Won’t Promote It To Other States

Gov. Phil Batt made good on his promise to the Coeur d’Alene Tribe on Tuesday, advising governors across the country that Idaho does not oppose the tribe’s plan to launch a National Indian Lottery this fall.

But in presenting Tribal Chairman Ernest Stensgar with a copy of the letter, the governor reiterated his decision a month ago not to promote the lottery that generated serious criticism in a number of states.

“I did state at the time that I would not be a cheerleader for it, and I don’t intend to be,” Batt told Stensgar.

Still, the tribal leader expressed his thanks for the state’s declaration that he hopes to use in breaking down opposition most believe is rooted in fear that a National Indian Lottery will take away profits from the individual state lotteries.

“I’m glad to see the governor is walking the talk,” Stensgar said. “He hasn’t made any promises he hasn’t kept, and we appreciate that. It’s very refreshing.”

The tribe hopes to offer the lottery in every state currently offering government lotteries, using a toll-free telephone number where people can play on their credit cards. But the governors of Connecticut and Indiana have already warned long-distance telephone companies they will be prosecuted under their state laws if they allow customers in their states to be connected to the toll-free number.

In an attempt to counter the opposition, the tribe has proposed giving states where the national lottery is available 10 percent of the profits. While not endorsing the game, Batt in his letter specifically cited the revenue sharing proposition.

“The Coeur d’Alene Tribe has concluded a study which indicates that states participating in the lottery will profit more from revenue sharing and state taxing activities than each state would lose in competition with the tribe’s lottery,” Batt wrote.

“The tribe has stable leadership over the years,” he said. “During my meetings with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, I have found their leaders to be industrious and pragmatic. … Upon careful consideration of all factors to date, I have determined that Idaho will not oppose the Coeur d’Alene National Indian Lottery.”

At the same time, however, Batt refused to immediately embrace the tribe’s proposal for tax incentives to lure new businesses to Idaho’s reservations. Despite profits from its successful bingo operations and revenue generated by collection of the equivalent of the state cigarette tax on reservation sales, Stensgar said the tribe is still short of the needed cash to make the kinds of improvements needed to effectively compete with rural areas across America in the search for economic expansion.

Stensgar asked Batt to back what he called empowerment zones that were broached after the Legislature quickly moved in 1992 to block creation of reservation casinos and promised the tribes the state would come up with alternatives for economic expansion.

“It wasn’t carried on, as you know,” he told the governor. “We’re still doing for ourselves. … I would hope when the session starts you could assist us in that endeavor.”

But Batt was cool to the idea.

“You don’t want me to make promises I can’t keep, so I won’t make that one,” Batt said. “But I’ll look at it.”