The New Mexico legislature is getting a second crack at the gaming compact negotiated between the Navajo Nation and Governor Susana Martinez.
The compact, which would be in force until 2037, would allow the nation to operate five casinos in New Mexico.
Lawmakers first saw the compact in last year’s legislative session, when they complained that they didn’t have enough time to deal with it.
This year’s session, which is scheduled to begin January 21, will only last 30 days. The tribe has been asked to submit the compact by January 15. Although advised that some lawmakers would like a different compact, tribal leaders say they like the compact just the way it is.
Neighboring tribes are concerned by the number of casinos the nation would be allowed and that some of them might impinge on their own casinos.
The legislature is only allowed an up or down vote on the compact, but cannot amend it. It can ask the governor and tribe to renegotiate the compact however.
If no compact is approved, the current one will run until June 30, 2015, the same time that four other gaming compacts expire: Acoma, Pojoaque, Mescalero Apaches and Jicarilla Apaches. The Pojoaque sued the state two weeks ago, accusing Martinez of not negotiating in good faith.
Some of those tribes don’t want provisions in the Navajo compact, such taxing the tribe over “free play,” included in future compacts with them. They also don’t like that the Navajo agreed to a higher percentage of revenue sharing. They fear that Governor Martinez will use the compact as a template for other tribes, although the governor’s office denies she has any intention of doing so.
Senator John Arthur Smith says he believes the legislature is even more divided on the compact than it was when it was introduced last year.
