AG to handle gaming compacts
Governor has moved away from his earlier stance about renegotiation with tribes
Gov. Kevin St it tis pushing for gaming talks to begin Sept. 3, after backing away somewhat from his po siti on that comp acts with Oklahoma's Native American tribes have to be renegotiated.
"I propose we table the issue of the renewal or termination date of the existing compact, and use our time more productively by focusing on coming to a shared vision of gaming in Oklahoma for the future," he told tribal leaders in a letter sent Tuesday.
He also designated Attorney General Mike Hunter "to be an active leader on behalf of the State in these discussions alongside my office" and further called for the hiring of a mediator to facilitate the talks.
"Experience has taught us the immense progress we can achieve when the State of Oklahoma and the Tribes of Oklahoma work together," Stitt wrote. "I am committed on building on that legacy and invite the Tribes to engage in meaningful discussions about gaming in Oklahoma to advance our shared commercial and economic interests."
Stitt told tribal leaders in a July 5 letter that their gaming compacts with the state expire on Jan .1,2020. He wrote reaching a new agreement with the state was imperative for the tribes to continue operating Class III games lawfully in their casinos next year.
His new approach this week comes after tribal leaders reacted angrily to that letter and to his comments in an opinion piece last month in
the Tulsa World. They contend he is wrong and that the compacts automatically renew on Jan. 1, 2020.
In a response last month, 29 tribal letters wrote Stitt “we intend to stand united in response to your recent statement that the Gaming Compact will expire at the end of this year.”
The tribal leaders also wrote that the present rates on fees should not change but promised to consider any proposal made by the state.
Oklahoma's tribes in fiscal year 2018 paid t he state a record $139 million in exclusivity fees under gaming compacts negotiated 15 years ago, accordi ng to the state's Office of Management and Enterprise Services. Stitt is pushing for an unspecified increase in fee rates, calling them the lowest in the nation. He told tribal leaders in the letter sent Tuesday that he wants to ensure that the state “appropriately” benefits from the legal framework that has provided the tribes with exclusive gaming rights.
His involvement of Hunter brings to the table an attorney who in 2016 successfully negotiated an agreement between the state, the city of Oklahoma City, the Chickasaw Nation and the Choctaw Nation over the use of water from south-central and southeastern Oklahoma.
Hunter said Wednesday, “I very much appreciate the governor's trust and confidence in our office and look forward to working with him, legislative leadership and tribal leaders to forge an agreement we can all take pride in and benefit from.”
Stitt told tribal leaders he wants a designee from the House and a designee the Senate to be involved in the compact discussions in the interest of efficiency. He asked for compact discussions to begin Sept. 3 or a later date that is mutually agreeable.