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Casino Negotiation Measure Advances

BATON ROUGE, La. -- A governor who begins negotiations with an Indian tribe for a compact involving gambling would have to notify lawmakers and parish officials in the area where the casino would be located, under a bill unanimously approved Monday by the state House.

The bill by Rep. Dan Flavin, R-Lake Charles, gives the governor 15 days from the start of negotiations to notify the officials, including lawmakers and the parish governing authority of the neighboring parishes.

Flavin's legislation was in response to what he said were secret negotiations between former Gov. Mike Foster and the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians to put a casino at Vinton, closer to the Texas border than four state-licensed riverboat casinos in Lake Charles.

The Vinton proposal was rejected by the U.S. Interior Department, but Flavin said local government officials and the general public that would have been affected by the casino didn't know about the state's deal until a local newspaper reported it.

The bill goes next to the Senate for debate.

Copyright © Las Vegas Sun. Inc. Republished with permission.

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