Is James Moran Opening The Door To Casino Gambling In Virginia?

"a law approving federal recognition of the tribes. The recognition would open the door to federal grants and give them legal standing to retrieve their ancestors' remains from museum shelves...

Proponents of tribal recognition hope that bills introduced by U.S. Sen. George Allen, R-Va., and U.S. Rep. James P. Moran Jr., D-Va., may finally come to a vote this year. Virginia's two senators, much of its congressional delegation, the state General Assembly and Gov. Mark R. Warner have all urged Congress to approve recognition of Virginia's tribes."

A downside for some to this bill is that it may result in the creation of gambling casinos in Virginia. Many Native American tribes, such as the Pequod in Connecticut, operate gambling casinos pursuant to a loophole in federal and state laws which permits tribes to do so.

Northern Virginia congressman Frank Wolf opposes Moran's bill for that and for other reasons:

"Some lawmakers, most notably Republican U.S. Reps. Robert W. Goodlatte of Roanoke and Frank R. Wolf of McLean, fear that recognizing the tribes would lay the foundation for casino gambling.

The tribes, whose members are mostly Baptists who do not condone even bingo, say they have no intention of opening gambling halls. But Wolf has said nothing would hold their descendants to that promise.

In addition, the Virginia Petroleum Marketers, Convenience and Grocery Association argues that federal recognition would allow the tribes to sell gasoline without imposing state taxes, undercutting small businesses."

Like much of the legislation that Congressman James P. Moran, Jr. sponsors, this legislation has a fishy smell. The AP article notes:

"Six of the state's eight tribes have been seeking such recognition since 2000, holding bake sales and yard sales to pay for a lobbyist to press their case. But legislation has been blocked by opponents who fear it would allow casino gambling and the sale of cheap gasoline on tribal land."

The notion that one can pay a downtown Washington lobbying firm's bills with the proceeds from bake sales and yard sales is a quaint one. The lobbying firm of Alcalde and Fay was promoting the tribal gambling/recognition proposal in 2001. You can read Alcalde and Fay's press release extolling James P. Moran, Jr.'s support of their tribal gambling/recognition proposal here.

The firm of Alcalde and Fay on its website identifies itself as "Government and Public Affairs Consultants." One of Alcade and Fay's listed "client services" is what it calls "grassroots campaigns." And what could be more grassroots, one might ask, then holding bake sales and yard sales to may a miniscule fraction of Alcade and Fay's lobbying fees for advancing the cause of tribal gambling/recognition? Of course that raises the question: Where does the rest of the funding for lobbying to support Moran's Indian gambling/recognition proposal come from?

It is an excellent question. As Rep. Frank Wolf points out, there is nothing in Moran's proposal that would prevent the recognized tribes from starting construction of a casino almost immediately after they receive federal recognition.

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