Indian gaming measure OK’d for ballot

Paul Davenport

Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2002 | 9:45 a.m.

PHOENIX -- A third Indian gambling initiative qualified Monday for the November ballot. Meanwhile, the Arizona Supreme Court ordered state officials to change an official description of a rival measure.

The Secretary of State's office said backers of Proposition 202, which is sponsored by the 17-tribe Indian Gaming Association, collected enough voter signatures to get the measure on the general election ballot.

Two competing Indian gambling initiatives, Propositions 200 and 201, qualified previously. Those measures are supported by the Colorado River Indian Tribes and dog and horse racing tracks, respectively.

The three initiatives' provisions vary but each would permit gambling operations to continue at reservation casinos. Proposition 201 also would permit forms of casino gambling at tracks.

Also Monday, the Supreme Court ordered that wording sought by the Hull administration and approved by a legislative committee be dropped from an official analysis of Proposition 200.

The Colorado River tribes had sued to challenge a statement in the state's publicity pamphlet that Proposition 200 would prevent the state from reviewing financial records or investigating alleged violations of state-tribal agreements on gambling.

Gaming Director Steven Hart had argued the ballot statement is accurate and that Proposition 200 would be a dangerous restraint on the authority of state regulators.

The Supreme Court said it will issue a formal opinion later to explain its brief order.

Ray Bernal, chairman of the Proposition 200 campaign, said he hoped the ruling "will put to rest the mischaracterizations about regulation that opponents have voiced over the past two months."

"We want to focus on the true benefits that our initiative provides to all Arizonans," Bernal added.

Gaming Department spokeswoman Christa Severns said the department would not retreat on its assessment of Proposition 200.

"We stand by our accurate description that the CRIT initiative rolls back state regulation," Severns said. "We're just telling what's in it. People can choose from there."

The publicity pamphlet will be distributed in late September, state Elections Director Jessica Funkhouser said.