The government of New Mexico have had an amicable relationship with the Navajo tribe over the years and that partnership could bear fruit to a deal that would grand the tribe as many as give casinos in the state for the next 20 years.
That’s the discussion state lawmakers, specifically Gov. Susana Martinez (R) will have with members of the Navajo Nation, which if enacted, would allow the tribe to build two more casinos in the state on top of the two state-regulated casinos it is currently operating and another unregulated casino that features low stakes gambling.
The governor and tribe leaders had actually already agreed on a deal last year, but it wasn’t finalized after state lawmakers asked for more time to brush up on all of the fine print contained in the text. There’s also that complaint of competition, something other New Mexico tribes have voiced should the deal between the Navajo tribe and the state push through.
Among the questions being thrown around include the possibility that these new casinos could cut into the businesses of other tribes, including the possibility that the Navajos could build a casino in an area where neighboring tribes already have theirs established, something Sen. George Muñoz, (D-Gallup) described to the Albuquerque Journal as “targeting the same set of tires going down the road”.
That’s just one of the many issues the compact stands to face when it’s discussed at the beginning of the new session on January 21. State lawmakers have already given the tribe until January 15 to submit a compact, be it the current proposal or an entirely new one so that the Committee on Compacts can discuss it on January 20. It’s a quick turnaround that Rep. James Roger Madalena (D-Jemez Pueblo), who is expected to chair the Legislature’s Committee on Compacts, wants to resolve as soon as possible. “It’s a short session, and the sooner the better, in my opinion. If we wait any longer … then we’re competing with time,” the congressman said.
Time is of the essence given the short legislative session that only runs for 30 days so a quick resolution to this compact is expected to happen. How it will get there remains the interesting part of this story because when it comes to issues like this that are under time restrictions, there will some casualties.
Who and what they are is yet to be determined.
