From the AP:
Tens of thousands of dollars generated by Connecticut’s two Indian-owned casinos has been contributed to out-of-state lawmakers who deal with tribal issues, the Connecticut Post reported Sunday.
Since 1990, those leading the Senate Indian Affairs Committee has received at least $110,700 from members, investors and employees of the Mohegans and the Mashantuckets Pequot tribes, according to the newspaper, which reviewed data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics and PoliticalMoneyLine. At the same time, at least $96,650 was given to three high-ranking members of the House Resources Committee, according to data from the two nonpartisan groups.
The congressional committees oversee the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs, the agency which determines whether a tribe is eligible for federal recognition.
…
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the senate committee chairman, received $57,700 and Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, who chaired the committee when Democrats were in the majority, received $53,000, the newspaper reported.
On the House side, the tribes contributed at least $96,650 to three high-ranking members of the House Resources Committee. Rep. J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz., collected at least $51,500… Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., co-founder of the Native American Caucus in Congress, collected at least $78,000.
Kennedy has been a staunch advocate for the Narragansett tribe, which is seeking to open a casino in neighboring Rhode Island.
Why do we still have an Indian Affairs Committee?
Why are Indians treated like protected animals we keep in zoos? This whole Indian thing is out dated, like keeping blacks on welfare for so many years. Let the Indians have their casinos and sell the land for development. That would give then the start to sink or swim in society.
They should be treated like any other American and stop making them out to be sub-species.
You forgot to insult the hispanics, cakemiester
You are on the right track, but your car can be little distracting.
Nobody in this corrupt, neocon government would be protecting them if it were not making them money. The Indians are just paying the neocons to keep them in business (not unlike Mob politics)…or so Abramoff wants them to think.
You want fairness? Get out your checkbook. Welcome to Bushland.