James Nye, spokesman for three tribes - the Gun Lake Tribe, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and Nottaweseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians - praised the House for not allowing the Muskegon proposal to “do an end run” around an agreement among the tribes that calls for all to agree before off-reservation casinos are proposed.”Certainly, the support is not there in the Legislature to approve an off-reservation casino,” Nye said. “Speaker Dillon is playing politics with jobs,” Memberto said. Dillon, D-Redford, ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor. Robert Memberto, Little River Band’s commerce director, criticized House Speaker Andy Dillon for listening to lobbyists, other tribes worried about competition for their casinos and the Detroit corporate casinos. We were looking at bringing jobs, entertainment and dollars to this community.”

“I’m a little surprised that the Legislature would stall economic development in West Michigan. Fruitport Township Supervisor Brian Werschem said it was beyond disappointing. McCullough called Wednesday’s vote frustrating.

Jennifer Granholm and Little River Band Ogema Larry Romanelli earlier this year. Bennett, D-Muskegon Township, introduced the bill in April.Įven if the discharge vote had been approved, the resolution still would require a full House vote on whether to concur with the compact amendment signed by Gov. Greg McCullough, Bennett’s legislative aide, said the roll-call vote was at 53-13 against the discharge when Bennett withdrew his request. Doug Bennett’s request to have his bill discharged was on the verge of defeat during a House floor vote Wednesday when he had the board cleared and his request withdrawn. Published: Thursday, August 26, 2010, 12:33 AM Updated: Thursday, August 26, 2010, 1:11 AM by Eric GaertnerįRUITPORT TOWNSHIP - The chances of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians building a casino at the former Great Lakes Downs racetrack site suffered a setback Wednesday.The state House, which is required to concur with a compact amendment allowing the tribe to open an off-reservation casino in Muskegon County, failed to even approve the discharge of the resolution from committee. The Muskegon Chronicle has the news story:įruitport casino plan gets the cold shoulder from Michigan House of Representatives Yesterday the Michigan House had to clear the board to prevent a huge loss on the vote to discharge the compact (a concurrent resolution) from the Reg Reform committee.

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