Tribes Try To Head Off Bill Compact Would Affect Tribal Gambling In Idaho

North Idaho’s Indian tribes kicked off a lobbying campaign Monday aimed at rallying public support for tribal gambling.

The campaign was provoked by a bill in the Idaho Legislature proposing a new gambling compact between the state and the Shoshone-Bannock tribes, which calls for a court challenge that could affect all Indian gambling operations. The compact allows for a federal court ruling on what kinds of electronic gambling devices are permitted in tribal casinos.

Such a decision could end ambiguity about whether lucrative electronic gambling machines used by the Kootenais, Coeur d’Alenes and Nez Perce are legal.

That’s a court fight the Coeur d’Alenes and others don’t want to be involved in.

“Before, when we had over 50 percent unemployment, there was no hope,” said Laura Stensgar, marketing director for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s gambling operations. “Now we have hope; now we have jobs to go to. We are teaching our children what it is to have a job.”

In the last decade, the Coeur d’Alenes say, they have paid for, or secured grants to pay for, millions of dollars in projects that have benefited the region’s economy. They cite a $22 million tribal casino in Worley, a $5 million tribal school, the $8 million Benewah Medical Center and $10 million in water system improvements in Worley and Plummer. Several other projects are on the drawing board.

Tribal contributions to local schools this year alone totaled nearly $800,000, including money for schools off the reservation.

“The bill would bring Idaho’s tribal gaming organizations into litigation with the federal courts,” said David Matheson, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s chief executive officer for gambling. “We think that’s the wrong way to go. We think it will jeopardize Indian gaming.”

Tribal press secretary Bob Bostwick said, “There is too much at stake to allow it to be put at risk. This is an industry that is worth $100 million to the northern region. We don’t want to do so much as cast a cloud over it.”

The tribes are calling for a yearlong moratorium to be placed on the case, which would allow them to continue negotiations with Gov. Dirk Kempthorne.

Rep. John Campbell, R-Sandpoint thinks that’s a good idea.

“They’ve gotten so close to an agreement it would be a shame to pull the plug now,” Campbell said. “I’m assured that within the year the tribes would be able to resolve it.”

Bostwick agrees.

“We’re not that far apart. An end to negotiations is just weeks away,” he said. “We’ve started this process, now we’re asking the Legislature to allow this process to work.”

Members of the tribe will testify during a public hearing on the Shoshone-Bannock legislation in the House State Affairs Committee Thursday.

“We know we have overwhelming public support all over the state,” Bostwick said. “Our goal is to settle our differences at the table so we can resolve this.”

WHAT’S NEXT House hearing Tribal members will testify Thursday at a hearing on the Shoshone-Bannock legislation in the House State Affairs Committee.