North Dakota bill takes a step backwards
North Dakota casino expansion has been dismissed by 63-28 during yesterday’s voting in the State’s House of Representatives.
US.- North Dakota House Judiciary Committee rejected the casino expansion amendment this Thursday, by 63-28 votes. The regulation was dismissed by the State’s Republican members, although the proposal was introduced by their House Majority Leader, Al Carlson, R-Fargo. The Resolution 3033 attempted to approve the operation of six more casinos.
Casino activity will remain under the control of local native groups. Experts on politics and gaming industry suggested that Carlson intention was to limit the American Indian tribes revenues after their major opposition and large protest against the Dakota Access oil pipeline.
“There were concerns among committee members that the introduction of this resolution has the appearance of being a response to the recent issues being faced by the state with regard to protest sites,” explained Shannon Roers Jones, a Casselton Republican, who urged legislators to reject the bill.
Carlson’s Resolution 3033 firstly introduced a proposal to install six state-owned casinos 20 miles away from Native American reservations and 5 miles away from communities with over 5,000 residents. However, the official later changed the amendment and did not set a limit of locations and let casinos be privately owned and state regulated.
The Republican denied the connection with the protests against oil pipeline and assured he intended to regulate the casino industry with a complete legislation. He suggested that further groups would present new bills with less conditions and benefits for the State. “It might be a whole lot worse if the people bring it,” Carlson added.
“I expected it,” the official confirmed after yesterday’s vote. And he told to the press that he “didn’t go around breaking arms” in order to obtain better results. The House Judiciary Committee rejected both Carlson’s projects this year. During legislator’s assessing of the bill, North Dakota’s GOP Governor Doug Burgum announced he was not in favour of the measure.
