Wisconsin Tribes Win! Seneca Bill on Tribal Nation’S Gaming Casino Loan Madison, Wis
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KalihwisaksKalihwisaks “She Looks For News” March 6, 2003 Official Newspaper of the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin www.oneidanation.org Legislators Terms of announce Wisconsin Tribes Win! Seneca bill on tribal Nation’s gaming casino loan Madison, Wis. - Senate Majority Leader Mary outlined Panzer, R-West Bend, NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. Assembly Speaker John (AP) - A lawyer for the Gard, R-Peshtigo, State Malaysian billionaire financ- Senator Bob Welch, R- ing the Seneca Indian Nation’s Redgranite, and new Niagara Falls casino Representative Jeff defended the deal’s interest Fitzgerald, R-Beaver Dam rates, while a tribal councilor announced they will be intro- called them too high. ducing a bill to address egre- Attorney Steven Horowitz, gious items contained in com- a New York attorney repre- pacts negotiated by Gov. Jim senting Lim Kok Thay, called Doyle. the casino a “high-risk ven- “The legislature needed to ture” because it was planned act to address very serious before the tribe owned the site problems with the recently where the casino is located. announced gaming com- Under the deal, the fixed pacts,” Panzer said. “It is our rate on the loan would begin responsibility to future gener- at 29 percent, though it would ations to make sure these be adjusted monthly based on compacts are fair today and in a key rate used in London’s the future.” money markets. That rate, The legislation will include currently 1.34 percent, pushes three provisions: the real interest rate on the - Any compact that is longer Photos courtesy of Christopher G. Powless casino loan to 30.34 percent, than 10 years in length with Members of the Wisconsin Tribes, above, were well represented at the State Capitol in opposition of The Buffalo News reported. an opportunity to renew for 5 Senate Bill 41 which was sustained by a Senate vote of 20 to 11. Below, Ernie Stevens Jr., president Knowing the base 29 per- more years must be approved of the National Indian Gaming Association, addresses the tribal representation on why SB 41 is not cent rate might be difficult to by both houses of the legisla- good for Indian gaming. pay back in the first year of ture. the casino’s operation, nego- - Any expansion of tribal Senate sustains One vote short tiators structured the loan in a gambling to locations cur- way that gives the casino rently off tribal reservations Governor’s veto By Keith Skenandore lower payments through the land would require approval Kalihwisaks end of 2003, Horowitz said. of both houses of the legislature. of SB 41 The Wisconsin State This year, the Senecas will By Keith Skenandore Senate was one vote shy of have to pay only the London See Page 4 receiving the bank rate plus 3 percent - a Kalihwisaks 2/3 majority Bill on Gaming After what seemed like an total of about 4.34 percent - needed for eternity walking the floors of plus about one-tenth of the the Wisconsin State Capitol, the override casino’s earnings before debt members of the Oneida of Senate and taxes. Tribe, and nine other Bill 41. Next year, the casino would Wisconsin tribes, returned The so- no longer have to share profits home with a State Senate called “ace directly with the lenders but vote that sustained Gov. in the hole” Senator instead make monthly pay- was Sen. James Doyle veto of Senate Breske ments on the loan, the news- Bill 41. Roger paper said. Pages 2A-5A/Local & State The Wisconsin State Breske, D-Erland, former None of the $80 million in Page 7A/Legislative Review, Senate voted 20 to 11, thus president of the Wisconsin loan proceeds would be paid Page 8A/Letters & Opinions Tavern League, who voted back until the five-year loan Page 9A/Rec & Fitness failing to override the veto with the 2/3 majority vote in favor of the override in expires, when it would be due Page 10A/Sports last week’s voice vote on all at once, along with Page 1B/Lifestyles needed, falling one vote Page 2B/THT short. Feb. 27. deferred first-year interest. Page 3B/Education Oneida Nation of Republicans control the Seneca leaders said the loan Page 4B/Health Wisconsin Chairwoman Tina Senate 18-13 with two was the best they could get on Page 5B/Eye on Danforth was ecstatic about vacancies, meaning they a risky deal. But Michael the victory, but realizes this needed 21 votes - three from John, a Seneca councilor, dis- Environment issue is still going to be Democrats - to override agreed. He was the only tribal Page 6B/Business debated for some time. Doyle’s veto and send it to councilor to vote against the Page 7B/National Girls the Assembly. loan package in December. Scout Week She hasn’t heard any strategic plans by the Democratic Sens. Chuck “I believe the interest rates Page 8B/Culture are too high,” he said. “As a Page 9B/Good News Republican controlled legis- Chvala of Madison and Page 10B/Classifieds lature but she won’t be sur- Gary George of Milwaukee nation, as a government, I prised if another bill is intro- voted with Republicans, don’t see why we should be duced. who had also counted on bending over backwards for The state Senate failure to Sen. Roger Breske, D- these Asian guys.” override the governor's veto Eland, to join them. Wayne Smith, who was of legislation giving lawmak- But Breske said he decid- deputy assistant secretary of Indian affairs at the See Page 2 See Page 2 Department of the Interior Veto Sustained One Vote Short until June, called the loan terms “outrageous.” Oneidas of Wisconsin and Canada meet The Oneidas of Wisconsin groups also discussed what and the Oneidas of Thames has worked and not worked held a government to govern- here in the Oneida communi- ment meeting last week to ty in Wisconsin. discuss the economic situa- Areas of discussion in a tion of the Canadian Oneidas question and answer format and to see what, if anything, where; economic ventures can be done to help the and investments i.e. hotels, Oneida brothers from the banks, seven generations, north. etc...,land base, land acquisi- The meeting was basically tion, culture education and an informational meeting possible joint ventures with where the Oneidas of both the Oneida groups. Wisconsin shared ideas and Chief Harry Doxtator logistics of how the organiza- Photo by Phil Wisneski tion is set up and how it func- See Page 4 Tsyunhehkwa employee Patti Archiquette explains a straw that is used to drink tions as a unit. The two tea to Randall Phillips of the Oneida Nation of Thames. Oneidas Meet 10A(Oye=lí) March 6, 2003 Kalihwisaks SportsSports Boys declaw Lena in regional opening round By Phil Wisneski Hill, Laster and Mike In the semifinal game, Kalihwisaks Mousseau all lead the way Oneida destroyed Fond Du The Oneida boys basket- with 14 points each. The win Lac Christian 75-44. Oneida ball team took over a half to was the first WIAA tourna- started slowly, but they turned figure out how to put the ball ment victory in the program’s up the heat in the second in the basket against the Lena history. quarter and lead 34-16 at Wildcats in the opening round In other boys action the intermission. The Falcons of the WIAA tournament. It Thunderhawks traveled to tried a zone defense to limit wasn’t until the third quarter Jackson to compete in the the Thunderhawks height when the Thunderhawks Heritage Conference tourna- advantage, but Roberto Hill outscored the Wildcats 19-4 ment. Oneida defeated Living and Marvin Spruce shot holes that opened up a tight game Word Lutheran in the champi- in it draining nine three-point- and took command to onship game 69-49. Roberto ers between them. Hill had six advance in the tournament Hill lead Oneida with 19 alone. with a 48-38 win at the Turtle points followed by Lee Hill lead the School. Laster’s 18 and Mike Thunderhawks with nine Roberto Hill drained three Mousseau’s 16 points. The points while Spruce and Mike three-pointers in the quarter Timber Wolves were within Mousseau each added 11. and Lee Laster scored six of striking distance late in the On February 24 Oneida Photo by Phil Wisneski his 14 points in the decisive fourth quarter when they cut hosted arch-rival Menominee Lee Laster goes strong third stanza. The offensive the Oneida lead down to and were victorious 61-42. to the hoop versus Lena. explosion gave the seven. Oneida then switched The Thunderhawks repeated- time advantage pushing the Thunderhawks a 37-23 lead. to a zone defense that com- ly pounded the ball inside to lead to 48-28 after three quar- Photos by Phil The 19 points were one more pletely baffled Living Word Mike Mousseau in the first ters and never looked back. Wisneski than the 18 points that Oneida Lutheran and the half and came away with Roberto Hill picked up the Above: scored the entire first half. Thunderhawks cruised the good results. Mousseau pace in the second half and Johnny The Wildcats clawed back rest of the way. The victory scored 12 of his 17 points in dropped in 14of his game Skenandore into the game in the fourth gave Oneida the sweep of the first half and help The high 19 points in the second scores three quarter but weren’t able to get both the regular season cham- Thunderhawks build a 27-18 half. Presley King also points for a any closer than eight points pionship and the conference lead at the break.