Nebraska senator promotes Indian casinos

Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2000 | 11:28 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

OMAHA, Neb. -- State Sen. DiAnna Schimek intends to reintroduce a constitutional amendment in the upcoming legislative session that would allow casino-style gambling on Indian land in Nebraska.

She reiterated that intention Tuesday after visiting northeast Nebraska's Santee Reservation for the first of several public hearings to be held this month on state reservations as part of an Indian gambling study.

"I'm virtually sure there will be another bill," Schimek said. "I'm not sure it will be the exact same one, but there will be another constitutional amendment."

About 20 people testified at the hearing, all but one in favor of allowing casino gambling on Nebraska reservations to provide tribes the means for economic development.

Nebraska's Omaha and Winnebago tribes run casinos, but they are located in Iowa, which allows casino gambling. The Santee Sioux Tribe has been running a casino in Santee, but it is considered an illegal venture because of Nebraska's ban on casino-style gambling.

Schimek failed this spring to pull her amendment from committee for a debate by the full Legislature.

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