Attorney General's News Release

February 20, 1996

Nixon tells Interior secretary that state will sue feds unless tribe application information is provided

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon today announced plans to sue the U.S. Department of the Interior if information about an Oklahoma Indian tribe's plans for land in Missouri is not provided to him by March 1.

In a letter to Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, Nixon said Missourians must have access to applications filed with the Bureau of Indian Affairs by the Eastern Shawnee tribe to have Missouri land taken into trust for the purposes of building a casino.

“If the federal government continues to stonewall and fails to provide these public documents, we will sue,” Nixon said. “I'll not stand idly by and expect the BIA to protect Missourians.”

Since last September, Nixon has filed three Freedom of Information Act requests with the BIA to obtain copies of applications filed by the tribe. To date, the BIA has refused to turn over any information about the applications, and Nixon told Babbitt this refusal is contrary to the law.

The Attorney General has opposed the introduction of Indian casinos into Missouri in part because residents would have no say in whether they want them or not.

“Residents of southwest Missouri should have the opportunity to determine if casino gaming is in the best interest of the community,” Nixon said. “They have not had that opportunity, and I am determined to use the full power of my office to fight this application.”

He also said the strict regulation and close scrutiny the state imposes on riverboat casinos may not able to be applied to casinos on Indian land.

“Missourians have said that local approval and tough regulation with full disclosure is necessary if we have riverboat casinos,” Nixon said. “It is vital that we know who is bankrolling gambling projects, and there are real questions whether an Indian casino would allow the level of public scrutiny and law enforcement regulation that Missouri requires of the riverboat casinos.”

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818