The failure of the state Legislature Wednesday to override Gov. Jim Doyle's veto of their oversight of casino sitings makes the odds much better that Kenosha will someday get a casino, proponents say.

The plan by Kenosha developer Dennis Troha and the Menominee Nation to build an $808 million gaming facility at Dairyland Greyhound Park is currently pending approval by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Troha and others expect that could come as early as later this year.

The state Assembly voted 54-43 against the override, far short of the two-thirds vote that is needed to reverse a veto.

"The bipartisan vote also deals a crushing blow to the Forest County Potawatomi, who dropped hundreds of thousands of dollars on ads" to override the bill, said Kenosha project spokesman Evan Zeppos. "Perhaps most telling is the fact that the Potawatomi's aggressive effort failed to get even the Milwaukee delegation to vote their way."

Zeppos called for a détente between the two tribes, saying, "We have been saddened that the Potawatomi, whose off-reservation Milwaukee casino has made them one of the richest tribes in the state, have used those riches to try to hurt a fellow tribe, particularly one as poor as the Menominee."

Jeff Crawford, attorney general for the Forest County Potawatomi Community, said he expects the issue of legislative oversight to be reintroduced in the next legislative session.

"Without legislative oversight, Milwaukee has been left powerless to voice concerns" on the Kenosha casino, he said.

Crawford said the process is flawed when the Connecticut-based Mohegan tribe, which would run the casino for the first few years, and a "non-Native American millionaire developer" like Troha can cause economic harm to the Milwaukee casino.

State Rep. Jim Kreuser, D-Kenosha, said he was discouraged by personal attacks on Kenoshans by the public relations firm representing the Potawatomi, run by former Gov. Martin Schreiber.

"They not only had on a full-court press, they had extra people on the court," Kreuser said of the effort by the Potawatomi.

Kreuser said the Republicans were using the matter as a wedge issue against Doyle, but he noted that state Rep. Samantha Kerkman, R-Burlington, joined Democrats in voting against the override.

Kreuser, the state Assembly's minority leader, said the project is important to economic development in Kenosha and will be the first casino to allow the workers to organize into labor unions.

5 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by OMCreader on June 21, 2006 at 8:40 a.m. (report)

Tom said: Exactly what Joel said!

Posted by OMCreader on June 19, 2006 at 4:26 p.m. (report)

bill said: Being a gambler its very hard to find a casino that offers dogs and horseracing they should ask the gamblers what they want not the stupid politicians. They dont have any idea about making money with gambling all there worried about is whos pockets are going to be lined, the true gamblers should have a say so with casinos and racetracks because we are the people that support the games how many politicians do u see in a casino or racetrack day in and day out.

Posted by OMCreader on June 7, 2006 at 12:39 a.m. (report)

glenn said: back in the 80s we all as native people hoped to prosper from gaming and most of us are. with gaming its all about location we as menominee people are struggling. it would be so nice to get this casino it would help 2 ares of the state menominee rez and kenosha community. but most of all it would help our elders to get better housing and our children to get better education. thanks for your time...menominee member glenn

Posted by OMCreader on June 2, 2006 at 10:38 p.m. (report)

Cozen Beguile said: So much for the free market. PEACE!

Posted by OMCreader on June 2, 2006 at 1:36 p.m. (report)

Joel said: Doyle is sucking from the Potowatomi's nipple. Of course he opposes the Kenosha casino.