By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
Indian casino lobbyists and management companies continue to bilk millions, possibly billions, out of Indian Nations. They use the sovereign status of Indian Nations, combined with PR spin, lobbyists and politicians, to enrich non-Indians.
The national Indian media, largely funded by casinos, is part of the scheme.
Millions of dollars each year go to lobbyists and politicians, while Indian people at home suffer.
Just drive across the Tohono O'odham Nation and you will see that the revenues from the lucrative Desert Diamond Casino are not going to the O'odham people.
Open Secrets reveals that currently the Chickasaw Nation tops the list for giving dollars to politicians. The Gila River Indian Communtiy tops the list for funding lobbyists in DC with $2.7 million to lobbyists this year. Next is Tohono O'odham Nation with $1.1 million to lobbyists. Both tribes have casinos in the same region of southern Arizona. Tohono O'odham is building another close to Gila River:
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=G6550
Dollars to Lobbyists:
Dollars to Republicans, Democrats and Special Interest groups
Open secrets also reveals that the Oneida Indian Nation in New York gave top dollars to the right wing Patriot Prosperity. The Oneida Indian Nation owns Indian Country Today Media Network.
http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000036389
.
The film Casino Jack reveals the crimes of Indian casino lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who extorted millions from Indian Nations in casino scams and exorbitant fees. The film reveals how lobbyists manipulate Congress. It also reveals how Indian Nations pay for influence in Congress and at the White House. It further reveals how Indian Nations fund lobbyists to keep other Indian casinos out of their region. Casino Jack makes one good point: Arizona Sen. John McCain is among those who have financially benefited.
Although the film attempts to make Abramoff appear righteous regardless of his crimes, it does make the point that some of the criminals in DC do go to prison. In the end, the real number of billions going to non-Indians from Indian casinos, is not really known. While some Indian Nations have prospered from Indian gaming, primarily those with small enrollments, others have not.
If you examine the national Indian media, you'll see that these issues are censored. If you examine the dollars from Indian casinos going to non-Indian charities, and to the states, you will see more of the real situation.
For instance, while the Tohono O'odham Nation was fighting for another casino in the Phoenix area, Desert Diamond Casino donated a new fire truck to one of the wealthiest communities in Phoenix. At the same time, many O'odham at home are living in desperate conditions, lacking safe drinking water, housing, jobs and struggle even to get food due to the lack of transportation and distance to grocery stores.
Open Secrets: Tohono O'odham lobbyists:
Finally, here's the politicians receiving top dollars for Indian gaming, with Oklahoma and California Congressmen topping the list:
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.php?cycle=2014&ind=G6550
Censored NewsIndian casino lobbyists and management companies continue to bilk millions, possibly billions, out of Indian Nations. They use the sovereign status of Indian Nations, combined with PR spin, lobbyists and politicians, to enrich non-Indians.
The national Indian media, largely funded by casinos, is part of the scheme.
Millions of dollars each year go to lobbyists and politicians, while Indian people at home suffer.
Just drive across the Tohono O'odham Nation and you will see that the revenues from the lucrative Desert Diamond Casino are not going to the O'odham people.
Open Secrets reveals that currently the Chickasaw Nation tops the list for giving dollars to politicians. The Gila River Indian Communtiy tops the list for funding lobbyists in DC with $2.7 million to lobbyists this year. Next is Tohono O'odham Nation with $1.1 million to lobbyists. Both tribes have casinos in the same region of southern Arizona. Tohono O'odham is building another close to Gila River:
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=G6550
Dollars to Lobbyists:
Open secrets also reveals that the Oneida Indian Nation in New York gave top dollars to the right wing Patriot Prosperity. The Oneida Indian Nation owns Indian Country Today Media Network.
http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000036389
.
The film Casino Jack reveals the crimes of Indian casino lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who extorted millions from Indian Nations in casino scams and exorbitant fees. The film reveals how lobbyists manipulate Congress. It also reveals how Indian Nations pay for influence in Congress and at the White House. It further reveals how Indian Nations fund lobbyists to keep other Indian casinos out of their region. Casino Jack makes one good point: Arizona Sen. John McCain is among those who have financially benefited.
Although the film attempts to make Abramoff appear righteous regardless of his crimes, it does make the point that some of the criminals in DC do go to prison. In the end, the real number of billions going to non-Indians from Indian casinos, is not really known. While some Indian Nations have prospered from Indian gaming, primarily those with small enrollments, others have not.
If you examine the national Indian media, you'll see that these issues are censored. If you examine the dollars from Indian casinos going to non-Indian charities, and to the states, you will see more of the real situation.
For instance, while the Tohono O'odham Nation was fighting for another casino in the Phoenix area, Desert Diamond Casino donated a new fire truck to one of the wealthiest communities in Phoenix. At the same time, many O'odham at home are living in desperate conditions, lacking safe drinking water, housing, jobs and struggle even to get food due to the lack of transportation and distance to grocery stores.
Open Secrets: Tohono O'odham lobbyists:
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.php?cycle=2014&ind=G6550
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