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N.M. commission meet to clarify compacts

FARMINGTON, New Mexico -- As reported by the New Mexico Daily Times: "Some tribal representatives are concerned that a draft of the New Mexico Racing Commission's rule about acquiring tribal input before issuing any new licenses for racetracks does not go far enough.

"At the commission's regular meeting, held at the High Desert Club at SunRay Park and Casino outside of Farmington on Wednesday, at least five letters from pueblos and tribes around New Mexico, asking the board to tighten the language and add further restrictions, were recognized by the commission and distributed to visitors.

"...The issue at hand traces back to earlier this year, when the 2007 New Mexico Legislature approved a new compact between the state and a number of tribes that puts limits on the number of gaming facilities the tribes can have, while also increasing the revenue sharing. Such revenue is the money the tribes fork over to the state for their gaming operations.

"...Roland Johnson, the former governor of Pueblo of Laguna, spoke to the commission in favor of adding language that would, in effect, require licensee applicants to prove there would be no negative financial affects to existing tribal gaming operations.

"...The recommendation pushed by at least five tribes — the Pueblo of Isleta, the Pueblo of San Felipe, the Pueblo of Tesuque, the Pueblo of Sandia, the Pueblo of Laguna — and the New Mexico Indian Gaming Association, was for the commission to consider and evaluate the financial impact new facilities would create to the tribes. They also urged the commission to create a rule that would provide appropriate timelines for those things to happen.

"...In the end, the decision to adopt the rule was tabled by the commission. Later this week, at a special meeting, the commission will hammer out the language with all interested gaming parties present, hopefully to come to some sort of compromise..."

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