Reel Wamps details MORE financial abuses by Cromwell administration

Do Governor Deval Patrick, Senator Therese Murray and Economic Development Director Greg Bialecki still want to hitch their wagons to this horse?  This is one big train wreck smack in the middle of the Commonwealth's new casino plans for 2012.

Reel Wamps has documented a series of recently exposed fiscal abuses detailing use of Mashpee Wampanoag funds which includes:

• Purchases of thousands of dollars in American Express travelers checks - cash - which were then dispersed without documentation for how they were spent to tribal council members
  
• Personal expenses for gas, cars and even pornography
  
• Travel and entertainment expenses for limousines, first-class airline tickets, high end hotel suites, theater tickets, booze and meals

How this is even possible is beyond comprehension.  It will be really embarrassing for the Massachusetts officials who supported the Mashpee Wampanoag special interest carve-out when the records show they benefited from these abuses when hobnobbing with Cedric and his cronies.  This saga simply won't stop unfolding, yet our elected officials seem intent on letting the State's interests get dragged further down the Indian casino abyss.

 

Amazing? Outrageous? Greg Bialecki forced to disclose casino stock ownership and profits

How is it possible in this day and age that government officials promoting plans for any multi-billion dollar industry can simultaneously be buying and holding stock in that industry and think that's OK?

The Boston Globe reports that State Economic Development Secretary Greg Bialecki is holding stock in two Las Vegas casino companies which have expressed interest in Massachusetts casino development projects.  Bialecki is Governor Deval Patrick's point man on pushing through casino gambling enabling legislation in Massachusetts.  Patrick has been similarly been caught taking money from and meeting with casino gaming lobbyists while claiming he wasn't.

This is not a case of another Harvard trust funder (although Bialecki fits that bill too) being unaware of stock holdings he has had for years squirreled away by dear old granddad.  Bialecki purchased these stocks, some $17,000 worth, only last year!  Bialecki is claiming his "financial advisor" made the purchase without his knowledge - right!  Even if that were the doubtful case, Bialecki learned of this egregious conflict of interest last Spring and did nothing.  Right smack in the middle of his negotiating deals and legislation that would create billions of dollars of benefits to the casino industry and he did not sell off these stocks, issue any statement of error nor did he recuse himself from his role on behalf of Governor Patrick.  It was only after he started getting calls from reporters last week alerting him to the fact that he was getting caught that he closed his account and sold the stocks - making a mere 30 percent profit on his one year investment.  Most of us would love to make a 30 percent profit in a year - especially this past year when most stock portfolios have been losing money or eking out single digit profits at best.

Of course most of use aren't high ranking government officials responsible for legislation and special deals that will benefit the companies in which we invest.  We've not yet put a shovel in the ground to create one single job in the Bay State associated with casino development and yet reports of corruption and ethics scandals are tainting the state at the highest levels.  And senators like Therese "Ca-ching" Murray are offended by legislation asking for a five year waiting period before she and her legislative colleagues can join Patrick Administration personnel in cashing in on their debts to the casino industry with high paying jobs and contracts.

Our legislators are meeting today in conference to finalize casino gaming legislation which will turn over our state to foreign gambling interests, corrupt Indian tribes and a bevy of special interest groups which Governor Patrick - with the advice and counsel of Greg Bialecki - will sign into law.  Amazing?  Outrageous?  Unbelievable?  Yes, but most of all - corrupt and sad.

Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts shows troubling data for local aid with casinos

Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts released several documents containing detailed analysis of the proposed gambling bill. These documents can be found below.

Follow the Money (if you can)

Gambling Revenue Distributions

Gambling Timeline

Expanded Gambling & Local Aid

Future Local Aid Scenario


Or you can visit: http://citizensforastrongermass.blogspot.com/2011/10/csm-release-economic-development-local_11.html

Mashpee Wampanoag tribe financial scandal broadens; Senate legislation still includes Cromwell preference

As Massachusetts Senators wind down ‘debate’ on a Bay State casino gaming bill which includes a special interest preference for the Mashpee Wampanoag, ongoing claims of financial improprieties by tribal leadership are growing.   The Mashpee band of the Wampanoag tribe, led by council chairman Cedric Cromwell, are under fire now for being in default on mortgage payments and failing to repay loans to early investors who backed their lobbying and legal costs for gaining required federal recognition as a tribe – a first step towards establishing an Indian reservation land-in-trust casino complex.

According to a new report in the Cape Cod Times, the Mashpee band owes real estate developer Herb Strather of Detroit more than $25 million.  The report also notes that the tribe is in default on the mortgage for a farm purchased for the tribe by Strather.  Strather is just one of several questionable “investors” in the Mashpee tribe scheme to open an Indian gaming resort complex in Massachusetts.  The Mashpee had also engaged the same South African investors behind the Mohegan tribe – Sol Kerzner and Len Wolman.  Both Strather and Kerzner have past charges of bribery and other claims.  How much is owed to Kerzner and Wolman is unknown as the tribal council has refused to open their financial books to members.  Under Cromwell, the tribe severed its relationship with Strather, Kerzner and Wolman in 2009 when the Mashpee Wampanoag became partners with another foreign gaming syndicate. The tribe owes its current backers, the Genting Group of Malaysia, in excess of $25 million.  Genting’s alleged ties to organized crime and terrorist groups make for a trifecta of corruption ties among Mashpee backers.  Foreign backed investors of Indian gaming and corruption are common according to a Time Magazine report exposing the problems with unregulated, tax-exempt Indian casinos including those of the Wampanoag investors.  Conservative estimates of tribal debts are in excess of $50,000,000 – with no accounting to the tribe of how that money was spent or repayment plans.  Cromwell apparently defaults, literally, to claims of tribal sovereignty anytime he’s questioned about this.

This latest news comes on the heels of reports that tribal elders seeking to recall Cromwell are calling on the Bureau of Indian Affairs to investigate the current council leadership for violating the tribe’s charter, financial improprieties and failing to make public the finances behind their casino related dealings.  Tribe members claim that Cromwell recently filed paperwork to change the tribe’s charter in such a manner that would essentially privatize the group’s casino interests and turn over the ownership to him and other council members.  Cromwell and other council members Aaron Tobey, Mark Harding, and Maria Stone have already established a for-profit real estate development arm called “First Light Corporation” using tribal resources to make real estate purchases associated with their casino endeavors.  Cromwell has reportedly used tribal credit cards to bill thousands of dollars for limousines, meals, travel and lobbying related expenses without any accounting or disclosure to the tribe or state regulators.

What tribe members do know is that Cromwell came to his position, backed by the Genting Group of Malaysia, under clouded allegations of election improprieties.  Cromwell’s tribal membership, which he gained only in 2006, qualifications have been questioned.  Cromwell had personally defaulted on his home mortgage and had liens for unpaid utilities prior to taking his new position.  Yet, today he apparently has a new unencumbered mansion on Cape Cod, membership records are locked away from prying eyes and his personal financial problems are no longer making newspaper headlines.

Massachusetts elected officials, led by Senator Therese Murray and Governor Deval Patrick, have taken hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the foreign money backed lobbyists behind the Wampanoag scheme.  They are paying back those lobbyists, like Bill Delahunt, with a special set-aside that ensures the Mashpee Wampanoag and no other tribe will gain exclusive and tax-free gaming rights to 1/3 of the state.  That this political scandal continues unchecked is beyond imagination.  That the Commonwealth’s financial and job needs are being put behind the interests of a small special interest group with such a long history of corruption and improprieties is immoral and criminal.

Other Native American tribes outraged at exclusion and special treatment of Mashpee Wampanoag

While Mass legislators led by top casino interest campaign contribution beneficiaries Therese Murray and Deval Patrick continue to push lobbyist written legislation giving special preference to Indian gaming with a unique carve out design to benefit only the Mashpee band of the Wampanoag tribe, other tribes apparently aren’t happy.  Murray went so far as to block an amendment which simply said the state would be authorized to negotiate with ANY federally recognized tribe in order to protect the Mashpee from potential legitimate competition.  Talk about lobbyist power - Bill Delahunt is earning his keep so all those contributions from his federal congressional PAC to state lawmakers is paying off.

The Cape Cod times reports that other Native American tribes, including Pocasset Pokanoket tribe, issued a press release Monday afternoon saying it had sent a 500-page document to the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs objecting to the Mashpee tribe’s application to put land into federal trust and saying the tribe has “absolutely no social or political ties to any part of Massachusetts except on Cape Cod.”

“There should be no advantage for any tribe,” Lesley Rich, an attorney for the Pocasset tribe, said in a phone interview. “The Pocassets are trying to protect their rights.”

George Spring Buffalo, the Pocasset leader, called it “an absolute injustice” for the Legislature to exclude state-recognized tribes from the process. 

This is just the latest blow to the scheme to turn over all gaming for Southeastern Massachusetts tax-free to  the Mashpee band and their Malaysian backers at Genting Group.  While current federal law makes such a move illegal, Therese Murray and the Governor are so in the pockets of Cedric Cromwell and the Mashpee band's lobbyists partnered with slot machine interests which will benefit from sales tax-free and fee-exempt sales to Indian tribes that they are insisting on pushing this through.  Even if Murray and Patrick are successful, and somehow the U.S. Congress passes a new law making their deal legal, the Mashpee will still have to get federal permissions which can be blocked by any number of reasons - including opposition by other tribes.

All this means the only jobs Southeastern Massachusetts will see from this deal will be lobbyists and lawyers.  The campaign contribution gravy train will continue for Therese Murray and her allies in the Senate.  Hope there is enough cash to overcome the damage to their constituents from this fiasco.

Doomsday for Cape Cod - Wampa World Countdown Clock

Ready! Fire! Aim!


The countdown to Wampa World begins once the Senate passes the Patrick-Murray Indian Gaming bill and Governor Deval "I don't count every check" Patrick signs it into law.




But don't worry, unless some savvy Senator amends the bill, the Governor's appointed henchmen can reset the clock by simply saying they believe the Mashpee Wampanoag and Supreme Commander Cedric "crush the competition" Cromwell might someday secure all the necessary federal law changes and administrative requirements to game.  Based on the current language as written in the bill, July 31, 2011 isn't an enforceable deadline.

Tribal elders, traditionalists seek to oust Cedric Cromwell for financial abuses

Thousands of dollars in credit card expenses for limousines and country club meals lobbying for casino cash by Cedric Cromwell has Mashpee Wampanoag tribe members seething!  Other financial records are still being kept secret from the tribe with members complaining to the feds demanding an investigation and are calling for Crush the Competition Cromwell's ouster.

Meanwhile Cromwell is being accused of attempting to change the Mashpee Wampanoag charter to privatize the tribe and lock in his ownership of any potential future casino cash in cahoots with his Malaysian gambling syndicate partners at Genting.  Perhaps he'll have a place on the board for Governor Patrick and Senator Therese Murray for all their assistance.

ReelWamps tells the story here: http://reelwamps.com/archives/traditionalists-plan-ouster-of-cromwell-administration

Petition to the Commonwealth on casino funds and terrorism

In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts legislators are passing a casino gaming bill which gives special preferences to the Genting Group of Malaysia to open a casino in partnership with the Mashpee band of Wampanoag Indians. By federal law, this casino will not be regulated by the state, it will pay no taxes or fees to the U.S., Massachusetts or any local community government in which it is located. Its financial dealings and records will be sovereign to the Wampanoag tribe and Genting and kept secret from all U.S. governmental regulators and oversight.

The progressive Florida Clarion reports that a U.S. Senate Committee found a disturbing pattern by Genting and its chairman of multi-million dollar payments to Islamic extremist organizations, business affiliations with reputed Chinese Triad organized crime and affiliations with at least two individuals wanted by the United States for terrorist activities.

Executives for Genting’s told the U.S. Senate Committee that these were “necessary” payments and relationships for Chinese investors doing business in heavily Islamic Malaysia. Surprisingly, U.S. based businesses operating in Malaysia do not feel the need to fund terrorists or engage in business relationships with Chinese Triad organized crime.

It may be necessary for Genting in Malaysia, but does Massachusetts have to facilitate these activities?  

We demand that Massachusetts’ legislature remove language giving special preferences which will allow any foreign interest in taking un-taxed commercial gains out of the country.

  

We demand that Governor Deval Patrick veto any casino enabling legislation which includes such provisions.

  

And, we ask the Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley investigate the funneling of foreign money to campaign contributions through lobbyists given to state elected officials like Senate President Therese Murray to include this language and vote in favor of this special treatment for Genting.

To sign this petition click here:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/prevent-massachusetts-from-funding-terrorists-via-casinos/

Now hiring! Thugs, cut throats, desperados... Contact Cedric Cromwell

"I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperados, mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, con men, Indian agents, Mexican bandits, muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswogglers, horse thieves, bull dykes, train robbers, bank robbers, @ss-kickers, sh#t-kickers and Methodists."  said Hedley Lamar in Blazing Saddles, but it might as well have been Cedric Cromwell today on WRKO when asked by Tom & Todd whether or not he could form his own "internal army" on his new reservation casino.

The show hosts noted "his face lit up" as Cromwell explained that there would be "border patrol management" and "sovereign police" on his casino reservation complex as their sovereignty as an independent nation within the borders of Massachusetts and the community which turns their land rights over to the tribe.  Of course he would need protection as no state or local police jurisdiction or authority would be recognized.  "Sovereignty is interesting" according to Cedric "crush the competition" Cromwell and he says the Mashpee tribe hasn't decided how they will handle jurisdictional issues.  


So, if you think you have what it takes to be a Mashpee tribal security police officer or border protection agent send your resume to:


Cedric Cromwell, Mashpee Wampanoag Supreme Commander
8 Seanna Road
Attleboro, MA  02703


According to his WRKO interview he plans a full "destination resort" casino with shops, restaurants, cinemas, restaurants, clubs, entertainment venues, bars and, of course "full-blown gaming" which will all need tribal policing, security and apparently border controls.   This will, in Cedric's words "crush the competition" because he won't pay a dime in taxes or fees.  Cedric discussed tax-free cigarette sales, tax-free "New Hampshire style" liquor store.  However, on a good note Cedric pledged to not sell heroine under his leadership (leaving that door open to a successor).


But apparently Cedric won't be happy with just destroying South Shore businesses and culture, he also plans a 85,000 square foot  indoor water park with indoor beaches so visitors won't have to bother leaving the reservation to enjoy Cape beaches where they might accidentally spend a few bucks off the reservation.


While the Wall Street Journal is reporting that East Coast casino jobs and wages are in sharp decline, Cedric claims he'll have 4,500 - 5,000 "reservation" jobs - of course not covered by any federal, state or local labor rules or ordinances.  While workers on other non-Indian gaming operations will have to undergo background checks which can be reviewed by state auditors, no such state oversight or background checks will be needed at Cedric Cromwell's Wampa World.  So, all you thugs, mugs, rustlers and cut throats hanging on the street corners of Providence, New York and Newark pack your bags for Mashpee - there's a no-background check job waiting for you with Cedric's Army.

Wampanoag financial backers a terror funding source?

How sadly ironic as we prepare for the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and its tragic ties to Boston to learn that Massachusetts politicians like Deval Patrick, Therese Murray and Karen Spilka have been taking campaign contributions from lobbyists on the payroll of a Malaysian gambling syndicate interests now accused of funding and associating with Islamic extremist and terrorists on U.S. watch lists - according to a report in the Florida Clarion.


Genting Malaysia, the money behind Cedric Cromwell and the Mashpee Wampanoag casino scheme, is accused by the Clarion investigative report of a disturbing pattern of mult-imillion dollar payments to Islamic extremist organizations and affiliations with individuals and groups on U.S. terrorist watch lists.

"Genting executives told Senate investigators at the time that the millions of dollars funneled to various Islamic extremist organizations known to finance jihad were made under direst and viewed as a cost of doing business for a Chinese businessman in heavily Islam-run Malaysia. Investigators had reason to be skeptical when photos of K.T. Lim and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il surfaced. The Senate investigators also obtained photos of Lim socializing with at least two Islamic figures wanted by the United States for terrorist activities."


Perhaps Governor Patrick should have been "counting every check" when the Boston Globe reported earlier this year that he'd failed to keep his pledge on casino campaign cash coming from groups lobbying on behalf of the Genting-financed Mashpee Wampanoag.  Therese Murray's "Ca-ching" statements after receiving more money from gaming lobbyists than any other state legislator have a less appealing tone knowing it was Genting cash laundered through the Mashpee Wampanoag and their lobbyists.

Worse than the funding source is Murray and Patrick's proposed, lobbyist written special interest gaming legislation for Massachusetts which turns over control of Southeastern Massachusetts to Genting (the de facto owners of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe since the tribe is now more than $25 million in debt to the Malaysian syndicate).  Genting will take the first slice of any of the un-audited, un-regulated and tax-free casino profits from the Governor's proposed Indian-only gaming zone in Region C.  If past foreign-financed Indian casino schemes are any indicator, Genting will funnel somewhere between $300 to $400 million tax-free a year out of Massachusetts to their Malaysian bank accounts.  The same bank accounts which apparently have been used to get Wampanoag and lobbyist campaign contributions into the hands of Massachusetts politicians while simultaneously giving tens of millions of dollars to extremist groups linked to global terrorism.

Another troubling claim in the report include Genting business links with Chinese organized crime triads.  Under the proposed legislation, the finances and background of all groups seeking gaming licenses in the state will be under investigations to ensure no organized crime or hints of corruption exist.  However,  if the Governor's scheme goes through, the Mashpee Wampanoag will be exempt under federal Indian gaming rules from any state-related background investigations or oversight.  Here is what the Clarion had to say about Genting's organized crime connections:

"Senate investigators were also interested in K.T. Lim’s relationship with Stanley Ho, the Asian casino magnate who has been identified as a member of the Chinese Triad, the Chinese crime organization, by the U.S. Justice Department and by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Ho has been denied a casino license in every jurisdiction except in Macau and North Korea. Genting has refused to address their business dealings with Ho and his company Shun Tak Holdings Ltd."


It doesn't take a a forensic accountant to perform basic due diligence on the Mashpee Wampanoag financiers.  Given the tribe's wretched recent history of convictions on fraud and political corruption charges one would think the Commonwealth's leadership would be paying just the slightest bit of attention to this issue and Genting's history of involvement in Indian gaming in the U.S.  For example, the Clarion reports:

• "Genting made millions of dollars as the money-men behind two controversial Indian Casino gaming developments in the Eastern United States. In both cases, Genting operations were directed by G. Michael Brown, a former New Jersey Attorney General who was later charged with embezzlement and cocaine use...."  Strike One!
  
  
• "Genting was the financier of the Seneca Niagara Casino Hotel in Niagara Falls, New York. Genting charged the tribe an exorbitant 28 percent interest rate, potentially in violation of the Indian Gaming Regulations under the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Genting also stayed in the deal for almost 15 years when they were legally limited to five. Seneca Tribal Council members have testified that armed Chinese thugs showed up to collect Genting’s money when tribal lawyers pointed out that Genting was violating the law..."   Strike Two!

This latest revelation of funding and other ties to terrorists groups should be strike three. All of this is public record information.  Isn't it time we put the breaks on the special interest plans to set-aside Southeastern Massachusetts for any non-transparent, non-tax paying, non-competitive casino development schemes?

Hey Governor Patrick! Are the Globe, Ledger and South Coast Today all wrong?

The Boston Globe, Quincy Patriot Ledger and South Coast Today have all editorialized that the gaming legislation proposed by Governor Deval Patrick and Senator Therese Murray is a flawed special interest give-away that’s a bad deal for the Commonwealth.   Yet this lobbyist written legislative scheme was voted out of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies headed by Senator Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) and Representative Joseph Wagner (D-Chicopee).   It should surprise no one that Senator Spilka and Representative Wagner join Governor Patrick and Senator Murray on the list of top recipients of campaign contributions from lobbyists representing the Indian gaming and slot machine industries.  What is surprising is that so few Senators or Representatives are speaking out against this special interest give-away at the taxpayers’ expense.

What do the local newspapers have to say?

Boston Globe: Casino bill deeply flawed; rank & file should kill it

“Any casino legislation should also provide a level playing field for would-be operators. Instead, under the current proposal, Native American tribes would have a one-year head start for the license designated for Southeastern Massachusetts. It effectively amounts to a no-bid contract for the Mashpee Wampanoag…  carving out a special process for a group with strong lobbying muscle remains problematic. Patrick opposed no-bid contracts in negotiations last year - and shouldn’t have shifted now.”

South Coast Today: Cards stacked against Southeastern Massachusetts

“While western and northern Massachusetts get to start clean in seeking the best option for casinos there, Southeastern Massachusetts will operate with a big handicap: a pledge to allow Indian tribes a year to work out their own deals with partners of their own choosing. And that means the interests of the region as a whole and of everyone who lives here come after the financial interests of the tribes. That's not comforting, especially considering how badly Mashpee Wampanoag tribal leaders treated the town of Middleboro, which they wooed as a mate previously in a plan to land a resort casino, then spurned for another pretty face when Fall River came knocking with a dowry of ready-to-develop acreage that UMass Dartmouth had been promised for the new biotech park the region had been pushing for years. The tribe is thrilled with the gambling bill and wants to do business with a Malaysian company, Genting. The tribe would first have to find land and work out a gaming compact with the governor… In short, if this legislation is approved, Southeastern Massachusetts is left to wait at least a year while the two tribes sort out their legal challenges and the Mashpee tribe tries to convince people that it should be trusted with developing the region's one and only casino… If casino gambling is to be a benefit to Massachusetts, it must do more than send a share of gaming receipts to the state treasury. It must foster growth beyond its own property boundaries or it will do more harm than good. It is hard not to wonder whether or not Patrick, DeLeo and Murray took that into consideration when they locked the doors and made Southeastern Massachusetts play a hand from a deck stacked against it.”

Patriot Ledger: Yes to casino bill, with some changes

“The bill creates a preference for giving an Indian tribe in Southeastern Massachusetts the casino license for the region… The Mashpee Wampanoags have been trying for years to open a casino in Middleboro or elsewhere in Southeastern Massachusetts. Requiring them to acquire land, get clearance from federal authorities and work out a compact with the state by July 31 of next year borders on the impossible. The time limit will almost certainly be challenged in the courts and could delay for years the opening of any casino in Southeastern Massachusetts and perhaps elsewhere in the state. This needs to be changed.”

Change is needed.  It’s time for our elected officials to say where they stand:

Are you for turning over Southeastern Massachusetts’ economic opportunity to a Malaysian gambling syndicate partnered with a corruption-tainted Indian tribe who will pay no taxes or fees, delay job creation and remove local controls over law enforcement and zoning?

Or,

Are you for transparent, regulated, tax-paying developers who can be trusted to enter into legally binding agreements with local communities paying off for the state treasury and jobs as soon as possible?

Governor Deval Patrick and Greg Bialecki – masters of misdirection and deceit

Greg Bialecki says Indian gaming is inevitable in Massachusetts if the state legalizes gambling.  Governor Deval Patrick insists carving out the Southeastern corner of the Commonwealth is the only way to protect the state from this inevitability.  Really?    

Let’s put aside the fact the Mr. Bialecki has now defined “inevitable” as Mashpee Wampanoag-only gaming (by his and the governor’s initial rationale for including his set-aside preference language  to legislators this bill should cover all the federally recognized tribes with any potential to someday get land in trust for a casino).  And, let’s put aside the fact that current law, defined by a Supreme Court case (Carcieri v. Salazar) prohibits this from happening absent an act of Congress changing said law. 

With all the Harvard law degrees in the Patrick Administration one would think they might at least have a cursory familiarity with the headline making news in other gaming states where Indian casino applications from federally recognized and eligible tribe are being summarily rejected by the Department of Interior.  A minor legal impediment called the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and those administering it at the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs will determine whether or not any tribe will be granted land in trust for the purposes of casino and other developments. 

A key provision under IGRA is that the governor of a state has veto power over the land into trust acquisition.  If Governor Patrick or any future governor views Indian gaming as a risk from which we need to be protected he has the power to prevent it in Massachusetts. 

Sec. 2719. Gaming on lands acquired after October 17, 1988: The Secretary, after consultation with the Indian tribe and appropriate State and local officials, including officials of other nearby Indian tribes, determines that a gaming establishment on newly acquired lands would be in the best interest of the Indian tribe and its members, and would not be detrimental to the surrounding community, but only if the Governor of the State in which the gaming activity is to be conducted concurs in the Secretary's determination.

The Governor clearly has some other agenda in mind and it doesn’t include the people’s interest.  Legislators from Southeastern Massachusetts “the surrounding community” oppose an unregulated, tax-exempt Indian casino complex and other regional tribes oppose the Mashpee-only plan.  Other IGRA requirements for allowing new lands in trust for Indian gaming include having BOTH a modern and historical connection to proposed casino site.

Let’s see how BIA and the courts have dealt with a few recent applications, after years of review and administrative procedures that our local band of would be casino kingpins in Mashpee will just begin if the Governor’s legislation is passed:

·        September 2011 – Guidiville Pomono Tribe casino plans for Richmond, CA – REJECTED. (Reasons: lack of support of the California Governor, lack of both historical AND MODERN connection to proposed site, opposition from other tribes.)

·        September 2011 – Jemez Pueblo Tribe casino plans for Anthony, NM – REJECTED. (Reasons: distance from tribe and opposition from other tribes in proximity)

·        August 2011 – Tenth Circuit affirms BIA rejection of Miami Tribe casino plans for Kansas City, MO – REJECTED. (Reasons: concerns over fractionation of land and long range interests of landowners.)

·        February 2011 – Stockbridge-Munsee Mohegan Tribe casino plan for Bridgeville, NY – REJECTED (Reasons: viability of proposal and lack of ability to legally take land in trust under current law)

How do we think the administrators at IGRA will feel about the Masphee Wampanoag tribe application?

·        Ability to govern? Hmm, history of tribal leadership convictions on fraud, corruption and other nefarious charges.   Financial backing from a foreign gambling syndicate with ties to Chinese Triad organized crime.  Might not be a good resume for good government.

·        Modern connection to proposed site?  Even the current Mashpee tribe chairman Cedric Cromwell lacks a modern connection to Mashpee, what possible current day connections can the Mashpee claim to Raynham, Middleboro, Foxboro, Fall River or the other “off reservation” (if they even had a reservation) sites they have planned?

·        Economic impact on and support of other tribes?  We already know the Rhode Island Narragansett tribe has plans for neighboring Twin Rivers and will oppose.  The Aquinnah Wampanoag are asserting their rights (and they are the only federally recognized tribe in Massachusetts with land in trust on which they could legitimately argue for a right to gaming).  Of course the Mohegan’s who want another casino in Palmer, MA will not want Mashpee competition.  The Pequots at Foxwoods will have their say.   Doesn’t look good on that front either. 

Where they stand on special interest gaming legislation? Let’s do a roll call.

We now know what Deval Patrick, Therese Murray and the gaming lobbyists want – special interests’ carve outs for slot machine companies and foreign backed Indian casino campaign contributors.    No matter what line of B.S. Greg Bialecki or Stan McGee claim about the inevitability of Indian casinos in the Commonwealth, their arguments for dedicating Southeastern Massachusetts to the Mashpee Wampanoag and ONLY the Mashpee’s simply don’t hold water.   Their addendum to the gaming legislation for this single, small and questionable special interest group at the expense of state revenue, jobs and community control reeks of political corruption, plain and simple.

But what will matter now is where our legislators stand on this issue.  It’s pretty simple. 

1.      You are either for preferential treatment of tax-exempt, foreign-financed Indian casinos which give huge returns to slot machine companies but lower returns to the state coupled with loss of state and local community jurisdiction, or

2.      You are for competitively bid casinos which will create jobs quickly,  maximize revenues to the state without loss of state or local community controls

So, where do they stand?  Most Bay State legislators have been silent on this special treatment legislative carve out for lobbyist Bill Delahunt’s band of POAID- (person of ancient Indian descent) led Mashpee Wampanoag and their Malaysian gambling syndicate financed “reservation casino complex.”  We know where the members of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies stand – they sent the Governor’s special interest bill to the House and Senate “without dissent.”  Now, most of these Joint Committee members, like the Governor and Murray, are big recipients of casino lobbyist campaign cash – tens of thousands in contributions apparently goes a long way toward legislators selling out their constituents’ best interests.  We know where Therese Murray’s “point man” Senator Stanley Rosenberg stands as he is whipping the votes to pass this bill without scrutiny or debate over the special interest carve-out.  Stan conveniently is another top casino lobbyist campaign cash recipient.  But let’s start taking a roll call for the rest – ask your state senators and representatives where they stand and help us fill in the list BEFORE it’s too late for a real debate and evaluation of what’s best for Massachusetts.

Let’s start the roll with our senators – sadly, Therese Murray really delivered the “Ca-Ching” to her senate colleagues as all but one took casino campaign cash, but that doesn’t mean they are bought.  So click on the link to their name and ask them and post their responses to the comment section.  I’ve asked them all, but nobody’s talking to me.

Remember, it is simple, they are either:

·        For preferential treatment of tax-exempt Indian casinos backed by overseas syndicates

Or

·        For retained local community control, rapid job creation and maximized state revenues from competitive, no special interest gaming

                 Senator                                Special Interests    - or -   Commonwealth

Therese Murray		For		Against		Tens of thousands in campaign contributions from slot machine and Indian lobbysts.
Bruce E. Tarr		?		?
Baddour, Steven		?		?
Berry, Frederick		?		?
Brewer, Stephen		?		?
Candaras, Gale		?		?
Chandler, Harriette		?		?
Chang-Diaz, Sonia		?		?		Opposes gaming, but unknown if she'll also fight against the special interest components of the bill.
Clark, Katherine		?		?
Creem, Cynthia		?		?
DiDomenico, Sal		?		?
Donnelly, Kenneth		?		?
Donoghue, Eileen		For		Against		Member of Joint Committee which sent special interest inclusive bill without dissent to the legislature.
Downing, Benjamin		?		?
Eldridge, James		?		?		Opposes gaming, but unknown if he'll also fight against the special interest components of the bill.
Fargo, Susan		?		?		Opposes gaming, but unknown if she'll also fight against the special interest components of the bill.
Finegold, Barry		?		?
Flanagan, Jennifer		?		?
Hart, John		?		?
Hedlund, Robert		?		?
Jehlen, Patricia		?		?
Joyce, Brian		For		Against		Member of Joint Committee which sent special interest inclusive bill without dissent to the legislature.
Keenan, John		?		?
Kennedy, Thomas		?		?
Knapik, Michael		?		?
McGee, Thomas		?		?
Montigny, Mark		?		?
Moore, Michael		?		?
Moore, Richard		For		Against		Member of Joint Committee which sent special interest inclusive bill without dissent to the legislature.
Pacheco, Marc		?		?
Petruccelli, Anthony		?		?
Rodrigues, Michael		?		?
Rosenberg, Stanley		For		Against		Therese Murray "point man" in charge of lining up votes.  Top recipient of lobbyist cash.
Ross, Richard		For		Against		Member of Joint Committee which sent special interest inclusive bill without dissent to the legislature.
Rush, Michael		For		Against		Member of Joint Committee which sent special interest inclusive bill without dissent to the legislature.
Spilka, Karen		For		Against		Chair of Joint Committee which sent special interest inclusive bill without dissent to the legislature.
Timilty, James		?		?
Tolman, Steven		?		?
Welch, James		?		?
Wolf, Daniel		?		?