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Barbour to sue to block tribe's casino
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Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour
In a letter to Attorney General Jim Hood on Monday, Barbour said the development "is clearly inconsistent with the policy of this state to develop destination gaming for the economic benefit of all Mississippians."
Barbour had asked Hood to look into the matter in June. Hood responded last week, saying a gaming compact signed by former Gov. Kirk Fordice, a Republican, left the state no legal grounds to halt the plans.
State and federal courts have upheld the compact, and the state's deadline for protesting the deal expired long ago, Hood said.
The tribe plans a 27,000-square-foot casino with 500-700 slot machines and a snack bar in Jones County, on tribal land near Laurel.
Republican Barbour chastised Democrat Hood for telling tribal chief Beasley Denson the state's legal options the day he told Barbour. That "breach of confidentiality" puts the state at a disadvantage, the governor said.
Hood said in an e-mail to The Associated Press that he did not release a letter advising Barbour. Hood also said his office had begun researching the issue before he knew Barbour was considering a lawsuit.
Hood said he did give a copy to a legislator who asked about the legality of the casino. He didn't name the lawmaker.
The Choctaw casinos are not regulated by the state. Mississippi has 30 state-regulated casinos that operate along the waters of the Mississippi River and near the Gulf Coast.
Several other Republican statewide elected officials oppose the development, including Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann and State Auditor Stacey Pickering, who is from Jones County. U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker and U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper, both Republicans, also are against it.
Warren Strain, a spokesman for the tribe, declined to comment about Barbour's letter, citing potential litigation.
He said the project will extend the Pearl River Resort in Neshoba County, which employs about 3,000 and has an annual payroll of around $86.5 million.
Strain said the Jones County development will create up to 250 jobs, with one-third reserved for tribe members.
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comments (6)
« mbo wrote on Wednesday, Jul 28 at 02:49 PM »
I wonder if his excellency does'not have more important things to do than stand in the way of jobs, of tribal business and responsibility and clearing out the horror of the racist policy our state leaders sometimes have toward and indian or a group of indians being able to stand on their own feet and get on with making our communities better for all of us. The Governors comment, " for the economic benefit of all Mississippians." rings of ignorance to our greater need to heal from reconciling our past policies toward the Indian People, allowing them equality and then bridging the state. Why not use the lawyer fund to go after BP?
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« virrob2 wrote on Tuesday, Jul 27 at 05:12 PM »
I suppose that Gov. Barbour has forgotten what a fit he pitched when Jim Hood hired outside counsel to sue the tobacco companies. I might add that the lawsuit resulted in 100 million dollars for the state. Barbour’s suit against the Choctaws is only to stop them from building a casino. The state is strapped for cash with teachers being laid off and furloughed left and right and the Gov want to pay some of his lawyer buddies money to fight a law suit that has already been decided in a court of law. Remember “The Little Big Horn”
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« InTheMiddle wrote on Tuesday, Jul 27 at 01:49 PM »
A few words of advice to Chief Denson - Give Haley his cut and your problem will disappear! Seriously, how can the Governor oppose this casino when they are already all over the state? Mississippi politicians - more interesting then the comics.
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« rpmjr wrote on Tuesday, Jul 27 at 10:47 AM »
Legalize gambling then. The state government should not be in the business of maintaining a cartel. If it's good enough for the coast and Tunica, why isn't it good enough for the rest of the state?
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« kenrblan1901 wrote on Tuesday, Jul 27 at 08:58 AM »
It sounds like the Indians finally got the better end of a treaty. Since the state agreed to it, the state should honor it.
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« brewer88 wrote on Tuesday, Jul 27 at 08:25 AM »
Leave the Indians alone. Let them build. It does mean JOBS. Isn't that the big picture?
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