Navajo President
Vetoes Casino Deal
Navajo Nation President Joe
Shirley Jr. has vetoed a memorandum between the
Navajo Nation and Hogback Chapter over a casino
the chapter wants to build.
The measure, approved by the Navajo Nation Council
on July 21, outlined a proposed revenue sharing
agreement with the tribal government if the northwestern
New Mexico chapter operated a casino.
Shirley's veto message said he was concerned about
how the agreement outlined revenue sharing and distribution
of profit, as well as who would pay for infrastructure.
The agreement does not clearly set out how profit
would be distributed in accordance with federal
and state requirements, Shirley wrote.
It would take 59 votes to override Saturday's veto.
The legislation passed 47-12, with 29 council members
not voting.
When the agreement was approved, Hogback council
delegate Ervin Keeswood Sr. called it important
step toward establishing a casino, although he also
said it didn't guarantee one would be built.
The measure would have given Hogback 80 percent
of the net profit during the first five years, 60
percent in the next two years, 40 percent in the
eighth year and 20 percent after that. The tribe
would have received the balance.
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