Tribes' Casino Bill Clears Another Legislative Committee

A bill that would allow the tribal operators of the Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun to establish a casino in East Windsor easily cleared the legislature's appropriations committee Monday.

In a 33-13 vote, the bill was sent on to to the full General Assembly for further debate. The bill was considered in the appropriations committee because there was a provision about the cost of regulating what could be the state's first commercial casino.

Two amendments were defeated. One would have required a referendum in East Windsor to establish the casino and another would have provided payments to surrounding towns by the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes.

The referendum was defeated by only a one-vote margin.

Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague and the committee's co-chairman, said there would be further discussion later in the session on payments to the towns surrounding East Windsor. Such payments, which help cover the cost of additional town services, are paid by the tribes to the towns that surround Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.

Read more: http://www.courant.com/politics/capitol-watch/hc-tribes-casino-bill-clears-another-legislative-committee-20170508-story.html