Letter to the Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission

June 6, 2003
Philip Hogen, Chair
National Indian Gaming Commission
1441 L Street NW, 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20005

Re: Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi (Meskwaki)

Dear Mr. Hogen:

Thank you very much for your June 2, 2003 response to my inquiry on behalf of those constituents who had contacted my office about the Commission actions to close the Meskwaki Bingo Casino. While I appreciate your concern about discussing a matter which may be under appeal, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals appointed Magistrate Judge John A. Jarvey to mediate a resolution.

Enclosed is a copy of a letter provided to my office by Judge Jarvey. The Judge has also met with my staff regarding this matter. As a result of the mediation that took place, Judge Jarvey has concluded that any resolution of this matter must be lead by your agency and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He states that while your insistence on a working Tribal government is laudable, the closure of the casino has actually made a resolution of the tribal leadership dispute more difficult. Judge Jarvey states prior to the casino closure order, with the help of the NIGC, the two Tribal Councils were close to a mediated solution for a shared power agreement and the scheduling of elections.

I have contacted the U.S. Department of the Interior separately to urge that agency's active involvement in resolving the tribal leadership dispute. In the meantime, I urge you to review the concerns expressed by Judge Jarvey and seek a solution that would allow the casino to reopen as soon as possible in order that the Tribe and the people of Tama County can resume their lives without hardship. I would appreciate any additional information you could send me regarding this matter. Please direct your response to my Cedar Rapids office.

Thank you for your attention to my request.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Grassley
United States Senator