



MARQUETTE COUNTY (WITI) -- Members of the Menominee Nation want a meeting with Governor Scott Walker to discuss his decision to deny their casino proposal. They are drawing attention to their cause by marching 155 miles across the state to Madison. This, as Governor Walker issues a letter to the Menominee Tribe, indicating he doesn't plan on changing his mind -- despite a new offer made last week.



Through the ups and downs, in the bitter cold, the trek by the tribal members is a living, breathing metaphor for the long, winding road that has taken the Menominee Nation to the brink of despair. The poverty-stricken tribe had viewed an off-reservation casino in Kenosha as its way out of poverty. The $800 million Hard Rock Hotel and Casino would have brought 10,000 jobs to the state. But Walker denied the project, saying the potential cost to state taxpayers from threatened lawsuits was too great.



What the Menominee Nation wants now is one last chance to make the case to the Governor -- face-to-face.



"We're just trying to get a meeting with Governor Walker -- it's not a publicity stunt. It's the Menominee standing up for what they believe in," said Craig Corn, Menominee tribal member.



Walker himself last met with the tribe on October 23, 2013. But Laurie Boivin, the trial chair through most of that process, says it's not for lack of trying.



"We specifically put requests in to meet with the Governor, and those written requests had not been replied to," said Boivin.



A spokesman for Governor Walker's Department of Administration says representatives from Walker's office have met with the Menominee Tribe in person 15 times.







More than 50 people are retracing the steps of the tribe's 1971 march from the reservation in Keshena to the State Capitol in Madison.



"Like the 1971 March, it's the Menominee standing up for what we believe. He may meet with us, he may not, but at least we tried," said Corn.



Marchers expect to arrive in Madison at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 18th.



But this march may be a wasted effort.



Governor Walker has issued a letter to Menominee Tribal Chairman Gary Besaw. In that letter, Governor Walker says he has looked over the Menominee Tribe's offer to chip in $220 million towards a new Milwaukee Bucks arena in downtown Milwaukee along with a $275 million bond.



That letter reads:



Dear Chairman Besaw:



Thank you for your letter.



As you know, on November 11, 2013, I tasked Department of Administration (DOA) Secretary Mike Huebsch with having extensive discussions with Menominee and other tribal government officials to work toward finding a win-win-win for the proposed Kenosha casino. Soon after, he assembled a core team focused on gathering objective, unbiased information.



During the course of the subsequent 14 months, Secretary Huebsch put together an independent fiscal and economic analysis. He met in person with Menominee officials at least 15 times and had extensive communication outside of these meetings. In addition, I met with both Menominee officials and Hard Rock International. Menominee’s data, insight, and information were included in the independent economic analysis.



Based on Menominee’s latest press conference, I asked Secretary Huebsch to provide me with an overview of the October 2014 offer, which you reference as the “Bucks offer.” The offer involved sending a portion of the money Menominee would pay the State to a third-party trust fund run by a trustee, appointed by the Governor. Under this offer, the trustee could spend the money on any public purpose the trustee chose. Secretary Huebsch explained that this trust fund would face serious legal challenges, as it would circumvent the role of the Legislature in appropriating state revenue.



As you are aware, your offer also contained a provision that blocked other casinos within 90 miles of Kenosha. When this offer was presented to Secretary Huebsch, you stated that one of the goals of the offer was to block a future Beloit casino. For your reference, I have highlighted the Menominee’s summary of the proposed creation of compact Section XXXIII.A.3, which reads:



Preserves gaming exclusivity within 90 miles of the Kenosha Facility vis-à-vis other tribal gaming applications permitted under a 2-part determination. Tribal revenue sharing payments are extinguished if another 2-part application is approved within 90 miles.



It is clear that during Secretary Huebsch’s entire negotiation over nearly a year and a half, Menominee never seriously discussed providing funding for a Bucks arena. There was an opportunity to bring forward such a proposal and have it vetted by our team of independent economists, which was not done.



It is important to note we have received no specific information related to the new bond. There was every opportunity to bring a formal proposal forward and have it vetted by our team of independent economists, which again was not done. Even if Menominee could acquire, finance, and legally execute a $275 million bond, it still would not fully cover the potential economic liability to the State.



Ultimately, after a comprehensive review of the potential economic impact of the proposed Kenosha casino project, I found that the risk to taxpayers is too great. Governor Doyle’s compacts, much like the provisions you proposed, could cause long-term economic damage to the state budget, potentially resulting in the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars.



Sincerely,



Scott Walker

Governor, State of Wisconsin



The Menominee's long journey will end one way or another on Thursday. The Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs has set February 19th as the date for Governor Walker to finalize his decision.



READ IT: Menominee Tribe's letter to legislators on impact of potential Kenosha casino on Milwaukee.



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