Biloxi Mayor Vows to Veto Casinos
As Reported by the Biloxi Sun Herald

BILOXI, Mississippi -- "The City Council will consider today whether Biloxi should allow gambling at two areas across from sand beaches, but Mayor A.J. Holloway said he will use his veto power to prevent the city's waterfront from going 'wholesale casino.'

"The two areas are 30 acres on the north side of U.S. 90 at the Tivoli Hotel site and 20 acres south of the Gulf Coast Medical Center at the city's western edge.

"If the city approves the rezoning, it would be the first time Biloxi has allowed casinos across from the open beach.

"…The council's vote today is not on rezoning the property, but on whether to direct the Biloxi Planning Commission to hold a public hearing and consider the proposals. If the city rezones the land, the developers will next ask the Mississippi Gaming Commission to declare the locations legal sites for gambling…"

Oregon Tribal Casino Gets Congress' Approval
Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – By an overwhelming vote of 27-9, The House Resources Committee of the U.S. Congress approved legislation which allows the Warm Springs Tribe to move forward with their proposal for the Bridge of the Gods Casino and Resort at Cascade Locks. The bill, HR 4893, is cited as the "Restricting Indian Gaming to Home Lands of Tribes Act of 2006," and was supported by Oregon Congressman Greg Walden and Peter DeFazio.

"We are pleased that the Resources Committee adopted this legislation so that our gaming proposal can move forward and can be considered without the rules being changed on us. In the near future, The Bridge of the Gods Casino will deliver 1700 jobs, education scholarships for Oregon students and a better future for our Tribe, for the families living in and near Cascade Locks and all Oregonians. We are thankful to Representatives Greg Walden and Peter DeFazio and Governor Ted Kulongoski for their continued support of our just cause," said Ron Suppah, Tribal Chair of the Warm Springs.

The Oregon congressman apparently most disappointed by this result was David Wu, who tried unsuccessfully to lobby the members of the committee, but was rejected by democrats and republicans alike.