Polls: Many oppose Conn. casino

Susan Haigh

Thursday, Oct. 3, 2002 | 9:50 a.m.

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Hours after two polls were released showing strong opposition to a third casino in Connecticut, the state attorney general Wednesday called for a special legislative session to repeal a statute that paved the way for the Foxwoods Resort and Mohegan Sun casinos.

Richard Blumenthal urged Gov. John G. Rowland to call lawmakers back to the state Capitol and nix the "Las Vegas Nights" statute, which allows churches and civic organizations to offer casino style fund-raisers.

"I am convinced that repeal of this statute would be an important step in protecting the state's legal rights and preserving our quality of life by preventing the proliferation of casinos in Connecticut," Blumenthal said.

Under the National Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, federally recognized tribes are allowed to operate casinos in states that allow any type of casino gambling, including gambling for charity.

Based on that "Las Vegas Nights" statute, the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes were able to enter into a gaming compact with the state and open casinos.

Chris Cooper, the governor's spokesman, said Rowland supports the repeal and plans to talk to legislative leaders about holding a special session.

Speaker of the House Moira K. Lyons, D-Stamford, said she and Senate President Pro Tem Kevin B. Sullivan, D-West Hartford, plan to meet next week with Blumenthal.

But Lyons said she has not received any information to indicate action must be taken before the Legislature reconvenes in January

"I feel comfortable waiting until January," she said.

Lyons said she wants to make sure any repeal won't jeopardize the slot machine revenues the state receives from Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.

"I don't want to gamble with gambling," she said.

In his letter to Rowland, Blumenthal said the repeal would not affect the rights of the two existing federally recognized tribes.

Sullivan said he agrees that it makes sense to wait until the Legislature returns in January.

"We will do anything we can whenever we can that is necessary to block the proliferation of casinos in the state," Sullivan said. "I just want to make sure (this repeal) makes a difference."

An effort in 1991 to repeal the law failed following pressure from religious groups that host Las Vegas Night events. Backers of the repeal hoped to stop Foxwoods from opening.

Rep. Jefferson B. Davis, D-Pomfret, earlier this year proposed legislation repealing the law but the bill didn't make it to the full House of Representatives for a vote.

At the time, Blumenthal said repealing the law might stop another casino but predicted tribes would challenge the move in court.

Nancy Tyler, spokeswoman for the Eastern Pequots, would not comment on the proposal. A spokesman for the Paucatuck Eastern Pequots did not return a phone call.

In June the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs decided to recognize the Eastern Pequots and Paucatuck Eastern Pequots as a single tribe, the historic Eastern Pequot Tribe. Both share a reservation in North Stonington and expressed interest in building casinos. The state and three southeastern Connecticut have appealed the BIA decision.

At least nine other groups are applying for federal recognition, and the right to open a casino in the state.

According to the new UConn Poll, conducted by the University of Connecticut Center for Survey Research and Analysis, 56 percent of voters oppose a third Native American casino, compared to 36 percent who support one.

A new Quinnipiac University Poll, also released Wednesday, determined 49 percent of voters strongly oppose developing any new casinos in Connecticut, 19 percent oppose new casinos somewhat, 11 percent strongly favor new casinos and 14 percent favor them somewhat.

The UConn Poll of 762 residents was conducted by telephone from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. It has a margin of error of about 3.5 percentage points. Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,518 registered voters by telephone between Sept. 24 and Sept. 30. It has margin of error of over 2.5 percentage points.

Three quarters of those polled by UConn, 77 percent, said they agreed that a new casino would provide a large number of jobs. A majority of respondents said a new casino would boost tourism and provide the state with revenues.

But 80 percent believe road traffic would increase, and 66 percent said the number of problem gamblers would increase with a third casino.

"Despite the fact residents agree there are positive economic aspects of having casinos in the state, it appears that quality of life issues are more important in their decision to support or oppose another casino in the state," Barnes said.