Dodd likely to back new Indian casino regulator

Lolita C. Baldor

Friday, Nov. 21, 2003 | 9:33 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., said Wednesday that he is inclined to support the nomination of Minnesota businessman Dave Anderson as the new head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Dodd met with Anderson for about 45 minutes Wednesday afternoon and raised concerns about the BIA's decision last year to grant federal recognition to two eastern Connecticut tribes.

The BIA recognized the Eastern Pequots of North Stonington, combining two tribes -- the Eastern Pequots and the Paucatuck Eastern Pequots -- into a single unit. That decision has been appealed by the state, and Dodd told Anderson Wednesday that the ruling reflected a recognition process that is "fundamentally flawed."

Federal recognition gives tribes certain rights and benefits while also opening the door to casinos. Southeastern Connecticut is already home to two of the largest casinos in the country, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, owned by the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes, respectively.

Dodd said Anderson was not aware of the Eastern Pequots decision, but agreed to look into it. He also said Anderson agreed that the recognition process is undermined when the BIA gives federal approval to tribes that don't deserve it. He said Anderson said the process should not be skewed toward those who have more money.

Dodd also said they discussed funding and staffing problems at the BIA, and Dodd's proposal to improve the recognition process by clarifying the criteria and addressing delays and confusion over procedures.

Overall, Dodd said he was impressed with Anderson's background and concluded he could be the right person to take over the agency.

"He said all the right things to me about tribal recognition," Dodd said. "I'm inclined to be for him."

Senators have raised questions about Anderson's connection to friend and former business partner Lyle Berman, who has several big casino projects awaiting BIA approval. Anderson has said he would recuse himself from any decisions regarding Berman.

Dodd said he wants to check Anderson's record and recusal promise, but said the casino connections are not enough to necessarily preclude him from getting the job. He called Anderson a "straight arrow" and said he was impressed with his focus on alcohol and substance abuse among tribes, especially young people.

Anderson, who is the founder of the Famous Daves barbecue restaurant chain based in Minnesota, was unanimously approved by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee last month. He is from Edina, Minn., and is a member of the Chippewa and Choctaw tribes and an enrolled member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Lake Superior Band of Ojibwa.

His nomination was on hold until last week, as the committee waited for his response to a request for more information.

Dodd said he did not ask Anderson about the pending recognition requests from several other Connecticut tribes, including the Schaghticoke Tribe from Kent, which got a preliminary rejection from the BIA last year and expects a final decision early next year.

Dodd and Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., have proposed legislation to revamp the BIA process, and also have talked about putting a moratorium on tribal recognition decisions.