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• Jeff Benedict - Raw Deal, 2005
• Jeff Benedict - Losing Hand 2005
• Jeff Benedict, author of "Without Reservation" - Testimony 2004
• Les Bernal, Chief of Staff for Massachusetts Senator Sue Tucker
• Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Attorney Generall
• Dennis Hastert, U.S. Speaker of the House
• John Warren Kindt
• Guy Martin, Perkins Coie LLP, "Impact of IGRA"
• Brian Selsor, Kimswick Mayor
• William N. Thompson, Ph.D. (1)
• William N. Thompson, Ph.D. (2)
• League of Women Voters
• National Governors Association (1)
• National Governors Association (2)
• Western Sheriffs Association 2003
• Western Sheriffs Association 2004

Jeff Benedict, author of "Without Reservation" - Raw Deal - Measuring The Toll Of Connecticut's Casinos: "$400 million. That's about how much Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun paid the state last year in slot machine revenue. It's the result of a deal struck in 1993. In exchange for the right to operate slot machines, the Mashantucket Pequot tribe offered the state 25 percent of the slot revenue from Foxwoods. In 1996, Mohegan Sun opened under the same arrangement." (Raw Deal, May 1, 2005, Hartford Courant) USPACT copy

Jeff Benedict, author of "Without Reservation" - A Losing Hand: "Casino gambling can bring financial problems - especially to those who can least afford them. Add bankruptcies to the impact of an army of low-wage workers on the local economy, and you've got ..." (May 8 2005) A Losing Hand, May 8, 2005, Hartford Courant) USPACT copy

U.S. Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert: "We write to express our concerns over recent attempts of certain Indian tribes to develop off-reservation casinosites. We strongly believe that these attempts run counter to Congressional intent and pose a serious threat to the current regulatory scheme that governs Indian gaming". (U.S. Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert letter to Secretary of Interior, June 10, 2003)

National Governors Association: "As a state's chief executive officer and the primary defender of state sovereignty, a Governor has the ultimate responsibility to act in the best interests of all state citizens. Although the gambling activities conducted under IGRA occur within the boundaries of tribal lands, they are designed to attract nontribal patrons, and the effects of these activities are felt far beyond the geographic boundaries of the reservations." (Policy Position of National Governors Association, 2003)

National Governors Association: "The Governors have consistently supported the traditional role of states as regulators of gambling. One of the states' central concerns continues to be the scope of the gambling activities permitted to tribes under the act. The Governors firmly believe that it is an inappropriate breach of state sovereignty, and inconsistent with the intent of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, for the federal government to compel states to negotiate tribal operation of gambling activities that are not available to others in the state." (Policy Position of National Governors Association, 2003)

Western States Sheriffs Association 2003: Resolution Supporting Legislation to Clarify Sovereign Immunity as It Relates to Indian Tribes and Local and State Governments in the Western States: Therefore be it resolved this 21st day of June, 2003, at the Western States Sheriffs' Association regularly scheduled meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, support: (1) legislative changes to address claims of tribal sovereign immunity as they relate to communities adjacent to original Indian lands and all other citizens and residents of the States; (2) to further define the role of Indian tribes to comply with city, county and state building, health and safety, criminal, and environmental coses; (3) address the tax issues and loss of revenues by non-Indian communities; and (4) urge our U.S. Senators and Representatives to co-sponsor new legislation in the 108th Congress, and pass suitable and equitable legislation addressing these concerns for the benefit of all. (Western States Sheriffs Association Resolution WSSA 2003-07)

Western States Sheriffs' Association 2004: Resolution Supporting Legislation to Study Sovereign Immunity as it Relates to Indian Tribes and Local and State Governments in the Western States: Therefore be it resolved this 19th day of February, 2004, that the Western States Sheriffs' Association at their regularly scheduled meeting in Reno, Nevada support: (1) legislative changes to address claims of tribal sovereign immunity as they relate to communities adjacent to original Indian lands and all other citizens and residents of the States; (2) to further define the role of Indian tribes to comply with city, county and state building, health and safety, criminal, and environmental codes; (3) address the tax issues and loss of revenues by non-Indian communities; and (4) urge our U.S. Senators and Representatives to co-sponsor new legislation in the 108th Congress, and pass suitable and equitable legislation addressing these concerns for the benefit of all. (Western States Sheriffs Association Resolution WSSA 2004-01)

Les Bernal, Chief of Staff for Massachusetts Senator Sue Tucker: "Some political analysts argue the casino issue is generally only on voters' minds when it's put directly in front of them and I agree with them. But lately, it's been in front of them a lot." "The issue has become so high profile in many states, there are many pro-casino legislators who if they're in a swing district, are going to have a serious challenge attempting to gain votes with some very important constituencies and it could be the difference between winning and losing." (Casinos and Political Campaigns)

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal: The impacts of federal recognition of an Indian tribe cannot be understated -- underscoring the urgent need for reform. A decision to acknowledge an Indian tribe has
profound and irreversible effects on tribes, states, local communities and the public and in Connecticut’s experience, greatly affects the quality of life in those communities living in close proximity to Indian reservations." (Testimony before the House Committee on Government Reform, May 5, 2004)

Testimony of Jeff Benedict, Author of "Without Reservation": "These groups claim that land belonging to their historical ancestors was unlawfully taken away 200 years ago and that they are entitled to get it back regardless of its current ownership." As much as one-third of the State is potentially subject to these land claims. The Schaghticokes and Golden Hill Paugussetts have already filed lawsuits against innocent landowners for this purpose. But these tribal acknowledgement efforts have less to do with land and more to do with gambling. Each of the four groups that are furthest along in seeking recognition is bankrolled by casino moguls or developers. These groups hope to secure recognition in order to take advantage of the federal Indian Gaming Act that permits federal tribes to open massive new casinos and earn over one billion dollars a year, as the Mashantucket Pequots and Mohegan do at their existing casinos. The biggest winners in these casino ventures are not the tribes, but the wealthy non-Indian moneymen who provide the financial, legal, and political muscle to help get these groups get acknowledged." (Testimony before the House Government Reform Committee hearing on Transparency in BIA acknowledgment process, May 5, 2004.)

Guy Martin, Perkins Coie LLP: While some Indian tribes have benefited from the passage of IGRA, local communities in which casinos have been built have beenprofoundly impacted. The quality of life in many local communities forced to host casino operations has seriously eroded, despite in many cases massive tribal contributions to the state coffers. ... The strain Indian casinos place on the surrounding communities is tremendous. For non-Indian casinos, it is estimated that for every dollar a community collects from gambling taxes, it must spend three dollars to cover new expenses, including police, infrastructure repairs, social welfare and counseling services. Because local communities cannot tax Indian operations, the strain is even more acute. A recent report issued by the Connecticut Office of Legislative Research noted that since Foxwoods Casino and Mohegan Sun opened, "index (serious) crimes have increased overall in Ledyard, Montville, Norwich, North Stonington, and Preston combined. Index crimes are murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft with the increases primarily on casino premises." The General Accounting Office has noted that with primarily cash businesses like casinos, the opportunities for theft, embezzlement, and criminal infiltration dramatically increase." (Impact of Indian Gaming Regulatory Act on Gambling in the United States and the Role for State and Local Governments, 68th Annual Conference, International Municipal Lawyers' Association, October 13, 2003.) (Guy R. Martin, Perkins Coie, LLP, 607 - 14th Street, N.W., Ste 800, Washington, DC 20005, Email: gmartin@perkinscoie.com, Phone: (202) 434-1650, Fax: (202) 654-9139)

Brian Selsor, Kimmswick Mayor: "Each of you in your own way has the ability to come and save the town of Kimmswick from the pending embarrassment of having a Casino shoved down the throat of a town which doesn't want it or need it." (August 2000 Letter)

William M. Thompson, Ph.D.: "Policy makers must also consider the harms imposed upon other peoples today who have absolutely no responsibility for the condition of tribal members today and ask how much harm to them is appropriate to alleviate grievances of a select group of Native Americans. Every person's responsibility for every other person on Earth demands that all people must sacrifice for the betterment of others--but how much by one group for another very small group?" (A Casino’s Effects on the Local Economy: An Economic Analysis of the Industrial Avenue Site As a Casino Venue for the United Auburn Indian Community January 2000) USPACT copy

William M. Thompson, Ph.D.: "Where governments do not prohibit, the majority can exercise self-control. Seventy-five percent gamble responsibly. They find it an entertaining diversion. But another 20 percent overindulge. They incur debts that impair abilities to support their families, unless they stop. Usually they can. Four percent cannot stop without intervention of others. Then there are the one-half to one percent (and these are conservative estimates) who fall into destructive behaviors when exposed to gambling. Families are destroyed, friendships broken, employment disrupted. Cycles of deception and crime lead to ruined lives--and in many cases, suicide. (Gambling, a Controlling Substance, PBS, Frontline)

League of Women Voters, Pennsylvania: The decision to permit the establishment of gambling operations in a particular locality should be made by the voters in the affected local communities." "The League finds no merit in arguments that extending opportunities for legal gambling is an acceptable method of enhancing state and local government revenue, stimulating economic development, preventing gambling dollars from leaving the state, or reducing illegal gambling." (League of Women Voters Position Statement: Gambling)

John Warrent Kindt: "The fact that state constitutional provisions were utilized to make it as difficult as possible for future generations to legalize gambling activities (and thereby experiment once again with a classic "boom and bust" economic cycle) lends substantial credence to arguments that both historically and currently, the legalization of gambling activities eventually causes: (1) increased taxes, (2) a loss of jobs from the overall region, (3) economic disruption of other businesses, (4) increased crime and (5) large social-welfare costs for society in general and government agencies in particular." (The Business-Economic Impacts of Licensed Casino Gambling in West Virginia: Short-Term Gain but Long-Term Pain)