Take a look at how the current representation in Arizona is representing them:
U.S. Rep. Trent Franks urged a key House panel on Tuesday to support his bill to bar the Tohono O'odham Nation from building a casino near Glendale.
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Franks' bill is co-sponsored by fellow Arizona Republican Reps. Jeff Flake, Paul Gosar, Ben Quayle and David Schweikert and has the support of Gov. Jan Brewer, the city of Glendale and a dozen Arizona tribes.
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Franks' bill would contradict the 1986 law, which says any replacement lands purchased by the Tohono O'odham Nation "shall be deemed to be a federal Indian reservation for all purposes," which include gaming, said Paula Hart, director of the Office of Indian Gaming in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Interior Department.
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I don't want to gloss over this issue just to make a quick political point. There are some real concerns by other O'Odham tribes (the Gila River and Salt River Pima Maricopa tribes are the main ones) about what this means for their gaming interests and the state gaming compact. If you want the background, I really suggest taking a look at the linked article.
But back to my main point:
The Arizona Republican delegation is too quick to enter into a local and state fight with guns blazing, and doesn't consider the broader implications of its actions.
Franks' bill would establish a precedent that the United States government can unilaterally revoke land use rights of tribal nations. Indeed, this would fit the pattern of the 112th Congress, which has already ignored the San Carlos Apache's pleas to stop Resolution Copper from desecrating sacred land AND allowing mining to proceed near Grand Canyon lands despite tribal opposition.
The party of small government? Pfft! No, just small kings hoping to keep contributions flowing, regardless of what the people and the law say.
In closing, check out this quote:
The Glendale Tea Party opposes Franks' bill, calling it a "desperate tactic" that would kill job creation.
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Sounds like most of Trent Franks' bills, actually.