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Iowa Seeks New Gaming Compact16 September 2002DES MOINES, Iowa—As reported by Indian Country Today: "Upcoming gaming compact negotiations between state officials and the Sac and Fox Tribe of Mississippi in Iowa are likely to include talk of requiring contributions from the Meskwaki Casino near Tama, a clause experts say is becoming increasingly common in Indian gaming compacts. "Last month Steven Young, Director of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, told the Sac and Fox tribe he wants to renegotiate any and all provisions of the compact, set to expire next summer. Young declined identify specific issues he wants to address before meeting with tribal leaders, but denied reports Gov. Tom Vilsack, a Democrat, wants to `tax' the state's three American Indian-run casinos. "…None of the current compacts provide for payments to the state in lieu of taxes or in contributions, something University of Iowa Law Professor Robert Odawi Porter says is becoming common in renegotiated compacts. "Initial compacts negotiated under the federal Indian Gaming Act don't have provisions for payments to state governments, but prohibits such payments, Porter said. "But tribes are increasingly using payments to sweeten the deal for states that may be reluctant to allow gaming or its expansion, he said. Nationally, it is becoming a common focus of compact renegotiation. "…The Meskwaki Casino, opened in 1992, is one of Iowa's largest gaming operations with more than $100 million in estimated annual gross revenues…" |