Measure to stop West Valley casino fails in U.S. House

The U.S. House on Monday evening rejected quick passage of a bill intended to block the Tohono O’odham Nation from opening a controversial casino near Glendale in the West Valley.

House members voted 263 to 146, with 25 abstentions, to support the Keep the Promise Act, but the tally fell short of the two-thirds threshold necessary to advance the measure on what’s called the suspension calendar.

The future of the proposal, which was introduced by Rep. Trent Franks, RAriz., was uncertain. The measure was intended to quash the years-long drive by the Tohono O’odham to open a Las Vegas-style gaming hall near Glendale.

“I am disappointed that some of my colleagues voted to allow the Tohono O’odham tribe to disregard their end of the deal and dishonor their promise to the other tribes and to Arizonans,” Franks said in a statement. The tribe applauded the outcome. Tohono O’odham Nation Chairman Edward D. Manuel said, “Today, David beat Goliath again. The special interests spent $17 million trying to rush this harmful bill through, but in the end it came down to the facts. The more that members of Congress examine this legislation, the more they recognize how harmful it is for Arizona workers, the Nation, and tribes across the U.S.”

The legislation, House Resolution 308, would have halted new casinos from opening in the Phoenix area until the current casino agreement between Arizona’s tribes and voters expires in 2027.

Hours before the vote, Franks said the tribe had acted contrary to its public comments when the gaming compact was negotiated.

The compact was intended to set limits on casino operations in Arizona. After its passage, the Tohono O’odham purchased a tract of unincorporated land within view of the University of Phoenix Stadium and had it formally recognized as reservation land in order to build the casino.

Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., worked to slow the measure. He requested a roll-call vote, rather than just a voice

See CASINO, Page 14A