Reid joins push for release of tribal gaming records

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., teamed up with the National Gambling Impact Study Commission today to pressure the federal agency that regulates Indian gaming into releasing sensitive financial information about tribes who operate casinos.

The National Indian Gaming Commission notified the Impact Study Commission here today that it believed it was legally barred from turning over the information, an opinion that did not sit well with the study panel, which is contemplating recommendations to get a better handle on tribal gambling across the country.

The study commission was threatening to subpoena the records it believes it needs to complete its examination.

Reid, a critic of both federal agencies, today sent a message to Montie Deer, who is seeking confirmation as chairman of the Indian Gaming Commission, strongly urging him to turn over the records.

The senator had a statement read to Deer this morning at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

"I support your nomination to the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) and am looking forward to working with you and the NIGC in the future, " Reid said in the statement. "Today, however, I wish to bring to your attention a serious concern I have about the NIGC's cooperation -- or lack thereof -- with the National Gambling Impact Study Commission.

"To date, everyone has cooperated with the commission and responded in good faith," Reid added. "The single exception has been the National Indian Gaming Commission, which has consistently refused to share financial audit information from the tribes."

Reid said he believes the Impact Study Commission is entitled to the data.

Deer did not commit to releasing the records but agreed to meet with Reid to listen to the senator's concerns. The Indian Affairs Committee later approved Deer's nomination, which now must go before the full Senate.

The clash between the two federal commissions intensified Wednesday during testimony before the study panel here of Phil Hogen, vice chairman of the NIGC.

Hogen again repeated his agency's position that it did not believe it had authority under federal records laws to turn over the information.

Hogen provided the study commission with a letter from the Indian commission's deputy general counsel, Penny Coleman, explaining his agency's reluctance to cooperate.

Coleman said in the letter that audits of 252 Indian gaming operations in 1997 reported the tribes took in $7.4 billion in revenues.

But she said the NIGC would not make public the audits because it considers them confidential and exempt under the Freedom of Information Act.

On Wednesday, Rick Hill, chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association, which represents gambling tribes, irked several commissioners when he testified that the tribes don't want to voluntarily turn over their financial records because they believe the information could be used against them by the study panel.

The extent of the revenues earned by the tribes is considered essential to the study commission's review of Indian gaming.

Reid has consistently pushed for tougher federal regulations of Indian gaming since Congress legalized it in 1988. He has repeatedly chastised the Indian Gaming Commission for being lax in performing its regulatory functions.

Reid also has been a frequent critic of the Impact Study Commission but has weighed in on its side in this clash because of his strong desire to bolster oversight of tribal gaming.

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