Batt Backs Off On Regulating Indian Gaming Governor Won’t Push For Enforcement Until Gambling Study Gets Under Way

Gov. Phil Batt said Wednesday he won’t press for any enforcement action against Indian reservation gaming operations while a legislative study gets under way.

Before the legislative session convened, Batt and Attorney General Al Lance sent a letter to Idaho U.S. Attorney Betty Richardson, urging a crackdown on tribal gaming.

The state and Idaho tribes disagree on whether gambling machines in use at tribal casinos - including those in Worley and Bonners Ferry - are legal. Despite the dispute, North Idaho tribes all have gaming compacts with the state that cover their operations. But the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, in southern Idaho, have no compact and so could face prosecution for gaming activities.

“In view of the fact we’re going to have a study committee, I am not going to press for further enforcement at least for a few months, until we decide where we are,” Batt said.

The governor’s comments came as the Senate adjourned for the year, wrapping up a legislative session that saw long, emotional hearings on tribal gaming. In the end, lawmakers decided against passing two pieces of legislation aimed at restricting tribes. The only measure they passed on the subject was a resolution encouraging Batt to set up a study committee, which he had already said he’d do.

“I think the Legislature finally acted pretty wisely by putting all this in a resolution, how they feel about it, and they’ve covered the whole gamut,” Batt said. “We need to define what our law says.”

Batt said he’s been uncomfortable with how some have viewed his role in the issue.

“I’ve been painted by some as some kind of a crusader, going out trying to overturn what should be a legitimate interest. I can tell you every other governor I’ve talked to is in this same fix….It’s a national question.”

Lance is at a national conference of attorneys general in Washington, D.C., and as part of that, will meet with U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno today. Lance hopes to bring up the topic of Indian gaming, according to his office.

As the Legislature leaves town, the governor is left with hundreds of bills to either sign into law, veto, or allow to become law without his signature. He has 10 days to complete the job.

On Wednesday, he signed more than two dozen bills, including:

HB313, opening local telephone service in Idaho to competition, to comply with federal action deregulating local phone service. Under the new law, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission will continue to regulate phone companies until their market has become competitive. Then, rate regulation would end.

SB1150, regulating managed care providers in the state. The sweeping bill provides a grievance system for patients and prohibits incentive programs that encourage medical providers to withhold care. Sen. Jack Riggs, R-Coeur d’Alene, who attended the signing and is a physician, said, “I think this bill is very good for patients.”

SB1271, creating a new commission to oversee heavy metals cleanup in the Coeur d’Alene Basin. The legislation was sought by U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, who hopes to persuade Congress to provide federal funds through the commission. “We have made sound progress (toward cleanup). This is a continuation of that progress,” Batt said.

HB244, tightening up required child-staff ratios for infants in daycare centers, but allowing more children per caregiver if the kids are older than 5. “I am happy now that we do not have 12 infants under one person’s care,” Batt said.

HB131, allowing the Idaho Housing and Finance Association to issue tax-exempt bonds to finance building projects by charitable non-profit groups.

, DataTimes MEMO: To check on the status on any legislation introduced this year, anyone with a computer, modem and Internet access may go to http://www.state.id.us, and access the Legislature’s home page.