WASHINGTON -- The Oneida Indian Nation today blasted U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney, saying her recent "erratic outbursts and conspiracy theories" jeopardize jobs and economic growth in Central New York.

The Oneidas, the region's single-largest employer with 4,500 people working at its Turning Stone Resort Casino and related properties, had unusually harsh words for Tenney after she renewed an old feud Thursday with the nation.

Tenney, R-New Hartford, issued a statement that called Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter a "tax cheat," and suggested that a Utica hospital proposal would be used to fuel his ambitions for a Utica casino.

"Is the hospital project really about improving healthcare in our community, or is it about using the taxpayer's money, once again, to build a $43 million parking garage to expand already wealthy Halbritter's cash ambitions into Utica for yet another casino?" Tenney said.

Her statement was the latest in a war of words about the hospital project with Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente.

But by bringing the Oneida Indian Nation into the discussion, she renewed an old feud with Halbritter, the CEO of Turning Stone whom she called "Spray Tan Ray" in a 2015 tweet.

The Oneidas said the tweet amounted to racist hate speech and spent about $600,000 against Tenney's campaign in a 2016 Republican primary in the 22nd Congressional District.

Tenney has also criticized a 2013 casino revenue-sharing deal between Turning Stone and the state, calling it "a corrupt bargain."

Joel Barkin, a spokesman for the Oneida Indian Nation, said Tenney's comments Thursday didn't make sense.

"The Oneida Nation has nothing to do with the hospital project, so we have no idea why Ms. Tenney is resurrecting totally unrelated issues that were resolved years ago," Barkin said.

"However, we are deeply concerned about Ms. Tenney's behavior," he said. "As businesses and civic groups constructively explore ways to build our local economy, her erratic outbursts and conspiracy theories threaten to create an environment that is hostile to job creation and economic growth in this region."

Tenney, a first-term House member facing an election challenge in November from state Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi, D-Utica, has attracted national headlines this year over a series of provocative statements.

In March, Tenney was mocked by late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel after she said that "somebody in the deep state" was responsible for ordering a $31,000 dining set at taxpayer expense for Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson's office.

In February, Tenney gained international attention after the Parkland, Fla, school shooting when she said, "so many of these people that commit the mass murders end up being Democrats."

Earlier that month, Tenney defended President Donald Trump's criticism of Democrats who didn't applaud at his State of the Union address. Tenney said the behavior was "un-American and they don't love our country."

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