Senator Kissel Releases Statement on Potential Authorization of Casino Facility
March 8, 2017HARTFORD, Conn. – Today State Senator John A. Kissel (R-Enfield) released the following statement regarding the regulation of gaming and the authorization of a third casino facility in the state.
“While I understand both sides of this argument I think it is important to appreciate that there could be some serious legal ramifications if we jointly allow two federally recognized tribes to develop a casino off tribal lands,” said Sen. Kissel. “I think we need to carefully evaluate the benefits of this proposed legislation against its prospective risks.”
“I do not believe we should rush into an agreement which has the potential to disrupt an already existing revenue-sharing agreement or be hurried to move forward with a bill that could open up the state to claims of illegal preferentialism,” said Sen. Kissel. “To that end, I don’t think anything has changed since April 2015 when our Attorney General issued a memorandum outlining similar concerns to my own.”
In April 2015 Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen released a memorandum outlining many legal questions and uncertainties.
“Our state is facing many challenges ahead; we should not look to increase those challenges. We should not put the revenue-sharing agreement at risk. We should not open the state up to a third-party challenge on the basis of equal-protection, the commerce clause or due process violations,” said Sen. Kissel. “These are serious legal questions.”
“Until these legal challenges are sufficiently concluded we should not rush into allowing the casinos an exclusive right to conduct casino gaming in the state,” said Sen. Kissel. “I urge my fellow legislators to oppose this proposed legislation.”
