Governor Jim Doyle Promises Veto of Gaming Bill; Tribes Withholding Payments
Governor Promises Veto of Gaming Bill; Tribes Withholding Payments
Democratic Governor Jim Doyle could veto Thursday a bill that would require legislative approval of the gaming compacts he negotiates with American Indian tribes.
Both houses of the Legislature passed the bill Wednesday -- the Senate passed it late at night -- and sent it to the governor. Both houses are controlled by Republicans.
The governor vetoed two similar versions of the legislation that lawmakers sent to his desk last year. Legislative leaders introduced the bill again after a state Supreme Court decision last week. It found Governor Doyle had overstepped his authority by signing a compact with the Forest County Potawatomi. The compact allowed Las Vegas-style games like craps and roulette and had no expiration date, in exchange for higher payments from the tribe to the state.
Lawmakers gave the governor sole authority in 1989 to work out deals with the tribes, but Assembly Speaker John Gard (R-Peshtigo) says the court's decision made clear lawmakers deserved some role in negotiations.
Governor Doyle relied on the higher payments from the gaming compacts to close a hole in the state budget. But shortly after the court's ruling, the Potawatomi said it would withhold the $40.5 million payment due to the state.
Thursday, the Ho-Chunk Nation announced it will join Potawatomi Indians in withholding an annual payment of $30 million. Other tribes have also indicated plans to withhold payments which could cost the state more than $200 million in revenue for the two-year budget that ends next summer.
Legislators likely will have to cut spending or find other revenue to make up the loss in tribal money. Governor Doyle said he would begin renegotiating the compacts as soon as possible.
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