MADISON, WI (WTAQ) – Menominee Tribal Chairman Gary Besaw hoped Governor Scott Walker would have an “epiphany” overnight and approve the tribe’s Kenosha casino.
But there’s no sign it will happen on this, the final day the federal government would allow such an approval.
On Tuesday, the Republican Walker said he would not meet with Indians who had walked for five days from their home base at Keshena in the hopes of making a final pitch to the governor.
At a rally Wednesday, a police officer stopped Besaw at the door to Walker’s office, and told him no one was available to meet with them. Besaw thanked the officer and tuerned around, saying he was dismayed.
Other tribal members rode buses to Madison — where they played drums, yelled, and held signs reading, “It’s more than a casino, it’s our future.”
At the Capitol, the tribal members were joined by Kenosha area lawmakers who said the casino would bring thousands of jobs and lots of new tourists to their back yard.
Walker has said it might open the state to hundreds of millions of dollars in payments to the Potawatomi tribe, which was given an exclusive operating zone for its Milwaukee casino in its last state gaming compact.
Walker officials defended their boss Wednesday, saying he has studied the Menominee project extensively, has met with tribal leaders, and had his administration chief meet with Menominee officials at least 15 times.
Tribal lawmaker Craig Corn said that even if the casino is never built, his group stood up for its future and its children.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)
