Governor opposes new casino

Wednesday, April 13, 2005 | 9:16 a.m.

NEW ORLEANS -- Gov. Kathleen Blanco vowed to block a new Indian casino Tuesday even as U.S. Sen. David Vitter met with federal officials in Washington on the issue, in what appeared to be a continuing game of political one-upsmanship.

Blanco and Vitter have been jousting for weeks over the casino hopes of a tiny, impoverished band of central Louisiana Indians, with Vitter prodding the governor to issue a firm "no" while burnishing his own anti-gambling credentials in press releases. Meanwhile, a national scandal involving top Washington Indian casino lobbyist Jack Abramoff has lapped at Vitter's heels.

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