Yakama Gaming Compact Nears Completion Proposal Now Goes Back To State Commission For Final Action

The Yakama Indian Nation’s gaming compact cleared its final public hearing and now goes back to the state Gambling Commission for its next level of approval.

The House Commerce and Labor Committee and the Senate Labor, Commerce and Trade Committee took about 1 hours to comment and ask questions Monday about the 86-page document, said Carrie Tellefson, commission spokeswoman.

None of the 16 legislators on the committees voiced objections to the compact, which defines the state’s regulatory role and sets the scope of gambling activities, Tellefson said.

State Sen. Ray Schow, R-Federal Way, proposed the state suspend all action on pending compacts, including the Yakamas’, until the state sorts out the impact of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision. Schow isn’t on either committee.

The high court’s ruling last week, which limits the power of Congress to resolve disputes over Indian gaming, dominated much of the public hearing, Tellefson said. The court ruled that Congress cannot expose states to federal lawsuits when compact negotiations break down.

Despite the ruling, suspending compact negotiations or delaying the signing of the Yakamas’ compact is not in the best interest of the state, Tellefson said.

“We’ve always negotiated compacts and feel that this is the best way to ensure the gaming is clean and fair,” she said. “If we refuse negotiations, we will have more Spokane and Colville situations where we are stuck with our hands tied.”

The Spokane and Colville tribes operate seven casinos in Eastern Washington without compacts. The casinos include slot machines, which are illegal in the state.

The Gambling Commission will vote on the Yakama compact at its April 11-12 meeting in Blaine. Tellefson said the compact, which closely resembles those reached with 16 other Washington tribes, is likely to be approved.

The compact will then be forwarded to the governor for approval, and then go to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s office, which has 45 days to approve it.

The Yakamas hope to open their casino near Toppenish before summer. Tribal officials have said their casino is expected to employ 569 people.