By: Thomas Taschinger
This lawsuit offer the chance of a clear-cut victory in the tribe’s contention that under state and federal law, it should be able to operate an electronic gaming facility just like the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas. In fact, in August a U.S. magistrate judge in Beaumont ruled in favor of the Alabama-Coushatta, although the state of Texas appealed and the case has been stayed until the Supreme Court’s decision in the Pueblo case.
But the lawsuit also bypasses the political route that has been blocked by Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. Their opposition to keeping Naskila open makes it difficult if not impossible to get congressional approval for this move. U.S. Rep. Brian Babin, R-Woodville, supports the tribe, and getting a bill legalzing Naskila through the U.S. House is possible. But Cornyn’s opposition is almost insurmountable in the U.S. Senate.
That’s unfortunate, because both the Alabama-Coushatta and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo are federally recognized tribes. They should have the same gaming rights as the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe, and certainly for a low-key form of gaming such as electronic bingo. This is not a casino or a sports-betting venue, even though facilities like that are becoming more common in the country as public support for games of chance grows each year.
The Naskila facility supports 700 jobs in a part of East Texas that can use them. It has wide support in the region too, with 80 civic, business and community groups approving resolutions supporting the tribe’s effort.
“We have strong community backing, we have bipartisan support in Washington, and we have a very sound legal argument on our side,” said Nita Battise, chairperson of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribal Council.
She’s right, and many people in East Texas would be pleased if either Congress or the courts agreed after all this time. Right now, it seems that this lawsuit is the tribe’s best option to remove the legal cloud hanging over their successful electronic bingo hall.
