...have a chance of passing, despite some concerns from Detroit politicians who fear new casinos could cut into the take of the city's three casinos.

Support is now coming for a new casino in Romulus, Mich., from Rep. John Dingell, a Democrat who is the longest-serving active member of the House and chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Dingell argues that a casino in Romulus would help the state and city with jobs and money . His backing is a key sign to manyDemocrats to get on board. In turn, it has bolstered the chances for the companion bill, which would clear the path for the Port Huron casino.
Romulus Mayor Alan Lambert said, this is worth "3,000 jobs" to his town.

The forces against the bill include the long-serving Democratic committee chairman -- John Conyers of Detrioit, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. With fellow Detroit Democratic Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick,  he even held a vote against the legislation, though it may have been largely symbolic since the Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over Indian legislation, voted overwhelmingly in favor of the measure.

On Thursday, Conyers, Kilpatrick and 51 other legislators from both parties circulated a letter asking colleagues to reject what they called an "unprecedented expansion of off-reservation gambling ."
But, for now, the state's Congressional delegation is split over a matter on which Congress would usually look to a state's members for guidance on how to vote.

Some believe the bill authorizing land swaps for the Sault Ste. Marie tribe of Chippewa Indians and the Bay Mills Indian Community does no more than what it purports -- settle claims to tribal land in the eastern Upper Peninsula going back to the mid-1800s. As such, they contend, it's not off-reservation gambling.

Others are taking the opposite stance, saying that this could actually hurt Indians, rather than help them, as revenues for on-reservation casinos may decline, if new, off-reservation facilities succeed.

 

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