Thursday, Sept. 9, 1999 | 11:03 a.m.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., on Wednesday spoke for an amendment that would strip Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt of his power to intervene in disputes between states and Indian tribes that offer or want to offer gambling.
Babbitt, who supports Indian gaming, has proposed that he be the final arbitrator in disputes that arise between tribes and states on gambling issues. In the past, the courts have had that power.
Bryan has strongly opposed Babbitt's proposal because the Secretary of Interior by law has a duty to serve Indian tribes, which have opened a growing number of gaming operations in recent years.
The amendment was accepted by the Senate into Congress' Interior Appropriations bill, which is scheduled for a vote today.
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