Latest news with #EmilyO'Brien
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Grand Forks casino proposal dies in House vote
Apr. 24—BISMARCK — A portion of a state Senate bill that included language to move forward a casino proposal in Grand Forks County failed in a Wednesday House vote, likely ending the plan for the conceivable future. Senate Bill 2018, an appropriations bill, included language that sought to allow the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa the ability to expand its casino operation beyond current tribal land. Existing state law mandates that the tribe cannot move outside of its traditional boundary. An earlier bill, SB 2376, specifically addressed the potential change but it failed in a 29-15 Senate vote in February. In March, the proposal was inserted into a Senate Bill 2018. At the time, state Rep. Emily O'Brien, R-Grand Forks, said she wanted it in SB 2018 because she considered it an "opportunity for the state to support local and tribal (economic development)." She said the state shouldn't stand in the way of what she considers local development decisions. The proposal was only to let the casino plan move forward, and was not the final say on whether it would be built. Various other approvals — and from various levels, ranging from city to federal — would have been needed prior to construction. On Wednesday, the House voted 66-26 against SB 2018's Division C, where the proposal was inserted. Prior to the vote, several members of the House debated the casino's merits, with O'Brien notably speaking in favor and others against. "For generations, tribal nations have fought for the right to self govern and build their own economies and to provide for the people with dignity and independence," she said. "Under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, tribal casinos are not just entertainment venues, but engines of opportunity. They fund schools, health care clinics, housing, addiction treatment and public safety on reservations, where those needs are urgent and under-resourced. "This is not a handout." But some felt the casino would open the possibility of tribes branching outward en masse while potentially having an adverse effect on the state's charitable gaming industry. Grand Forks Republican Rep. Nels Christianson said "compromise" and "balance" with gambling already exist in North Dakota. He believes that allowing expansion of American Indian gaming outside of a tribe's borders would jeopardize that balance. "A casino in Grand Forks County upsets that great consensus. Let us not have any misconceptions about this: A casino in Grand Forks will mean, eventually, a big casino adjacent to each large city in our state," he said. "This means money leaving our community and each tribe will feel the need to upstage the next for the best location adjacent to another North Dakota community." He added: "The proposed casino in Grand Forks County represents a giant monster sucking the lifeblood and earnings out of our community. I stand against this monster and I seek to slay it." Rep. Matthew Heilman, R-Bismarck, wondered aloud if allowing the proposal to move forward would be detrimental to the existing charitable gaming industry. "I'm not really sure," he said, answering his own question. "But I don't want to find out. ..." O'Brien specifically addressed charitable gaming during her short speech on the House floor. She said she supports the industry; meanwhile, she said, North Dakota charitable gaming has grown in recent years. "As of Dec. 31, 2024, there are five tribal casinos in North Dakota, compared to 328 licensed gaming entities, which includes 846 sites and 5,250 e-tab machines," she said. "These machines are easily accessible at our local restaurants, bars and fraternal clubs. And in 2022 alone, charitable gaming generated more than $1.7 billion — that's a 560% increase in just five years." At the same time, she said, tribal casinos are confined to traditional areas and thus are being "boxed out" as other gambling grows. "They are held to a stricter set of rules, bound by federal oversight and denied the ability to expand or relocate under state law. This is not equity and it's not balance," O'Brien said. "Both (industries) deserve our support." During his testimony, Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, said he has received numerous emails from charitable organizations "that the sky is falling." "The more charitable gaming emails I get, the more I want to investigate these guys," he said. Rep. Lawrence Klemen, R-Bismarck, said the casino proposal reminds him of the failed Fufeng proposal. Announced in 2021and abandoned in 2023, the plan called for the China-backed company to build a corn mill on the edge of the city. It was abandoned when the Air Force declared the project a potential threat to national security. "Well, I think I've heard enough from the city of Grand Forks on this subject. I don't think we should be approving what they do in the name of economic development," he said. Later in the session, O'Brien rose to address "hurtful" comments. "Our discussion should focus on the merits of the issue at hand and not on questioning each other's motives," she said, reminding members about decorum. "... While I would accept an apology, the damage has been done and I expect more from this chamber." According to a report filed Thursday by Forum Communications columnist Rob Port , Klemen did email an apology to O'Brien and Rep. Jayme Davis, R-Rolette, who is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Grand Forks casino plan could get new life as amendment
Mar. 26—BISMARCK — A plan to someday build an American Indian casino in Grand Forks could be getting a second chance. After a bill to allow the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa to operate outside its borders failed to earn approval in the state Senate earlier this year, the plan has re-emerged as a proposed amendment to Senate Bill 2018, an appropriations bill related to the Department of Commerce. The amendment was discussed Wednesday afternoon in a meeting of the House Education and Environment Committee. The committee did not vote on the amendment but only heard testimony, including from Rep. Emily O'Brien, R-Grand Forks, and Mayor Brandon Bochenski. O'Brien made the proposal, saying she sees it as an "opportunity for the state to support local and tribal (economic development)." She said the state shouldn't stand in the way of what she considers local development decisions. During Wednesday's committee hearing, O'Brien cited her own written testimony supporting the proposed amendment to SB 2018. She said the casino proposal is "designed to create jobs, revenue and revitalization" for Grand Forks and the area. In North Dakota, the Department of Commerce oversees the state's Tourism Division. "This aligns with the Grand Forks strategy to improve economic (and) community development, and quality of life and attract visitors and new residents," she said. "This is a perfect fit for the Department of Commerce's budget and meeting their mission of 'leading the efforts to attract, retain and expand wealth and talent in North Dakota.'" Technically, proponents are seeking a change to state law that will allow the Turtle Mountain Band to operate a casino outside of its traditional boundaries. It's just one of a number of steps that must occur before a casino could begin construction in Grand Forks, which is roughly 170 miles from the Turtle Mountain Band's headquarters. The tribe hopes to build a casino and "high-end resort " along the west side of Interstate 29, just south of the Grand Forks city limits. Expected to cost upwards of $300 million, the resort and casino would likely employ some 800, making it one of the city's top 10 employers, according to data compiled in a 2022 feasibility study. If built, the casino could see as much as $80 million in gross annual gaming revenue in its first year and $90 million by year five, the study predicted. That does not include revenue from food and beverage sales, lodging and other amenities. The tribe already owns the land, but needs the change in state law to allow it to operate outside of its current borders. If that's approved, it would also need a series of other approvals — at the local, state and federal level — before construction could begin. Originally, the proposal to allow the tribe to operate in Grand Forks County was presented to the Legislature in Senate Bill 2376. It failed to get out of the Senate, falling 29-15 in a mid-February vote. Opponents have said they worry about a casino's impact on legal charitable gaming. They also cited concerns about a potential increase in gambling addiction, while some wonder if it would start a movement of casino projects in other cities. O'Brien said in her testimony that she frequently requests reports on charitable gaming in Grand Forks and "if they suffer losses, we can evaluate the best path forward," although she said it's unlikely any trends would develop for a few years. She also wrote in her testimony that the state "is dedicated to raising awareness and stopping gambling addictions in North Dakota," noting the balance of the Problem Gambling Prevention and Treatment Fund was $1.2 million last session. Bochenski and the Grand Forks City Council have been amenable to the proposal. Earlier this year, the council voted to enter into a non-binding letter of intent to help move the plan forward, while Bochenski testified in favor of the plan during a Senate committee hearing on Feb. 5. At the time, he noted that the tribe is not seeking any sort of city funding incentive. "This is my second term and this is the first time a $300 million project has come to us that isn't asking for anything. Every time somebody comes in, they want an incentive. Quite frankly, (other projects) want the moon and we have to try to deliver that or they will find greener pastures. That's not the case with this one," he said. "On top of that, the economic impact numbers speak for themselves." Wednesday, he told the House committee that even if the amendment is added to SB 2018, and even if the bill gets final approval, it could be as long as five years before construction would begin. A committee member asked Bochenski about taxation. If the casino is built, the land upon which it is constructed would be considered tribal trust and therefore would be exempt from traditional taxation. Specifically, the casino would be on a small portion of the 146 acres the tribe owns at the site; the rest of the land — the portion that doesn't have the casino building itself — would be taxed as usual, Bochenski said. Further, the city and the tribe have discussed annual payments from the tribe to local taxing entities in lieu of typical taxes. "There are really two ways the local subdivisions will get funding (in lieu of taxes). Aside from the economic impact it would bring to the community, you also have a small portion that would be in trust but the rest of the land would pay taxes as a normal entity would," Bochenski said. "The other way is through a community host services agreement. We'll have that spelled out. That's a piece that needs to be solved before this can move forward. What exactly is going to be the benefit for the local subdivisions? We've had conversations with them. They do expect something or they won't be supportive of the project and I'm not going to be supportive of the project." O'Brien said that even if the committee approves the amendment, SB 2018 still has several legislative steps to pass before it can be approved.
