Sides Battle Over Potential Tribal Casino Smoking Ban

A second legislative committee has approved a bill extending the state smoking ban to Connecticut's two tribally operated casinos, though the proposal's chances of becoming law remain unclear.

The Government Administration & Elections Committee voted 8-3 Monday to pass legislation that would remove the exemptions from Connecticut's bar and restaurant smoking ban for the two casinos. The bill, which has already triggered a threat of legal action from tribal officials, was previously approved by the Public Health Committee, 28-2.

The second committee vote went down on party lines — Democrats supporting the measure, Republicans opposing it — with one legislator, Rep. Andrew Fleischmann, D-West Hartford, abstaining.

But despite the handy committee victory for supporters of the effort, doubts remain among legislators about the attempt to force the smoking ban on the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes, which operate Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun, respectively, as well as the potential cost.

The tribes have long held that such a move by the legislature would violate their rights as sovereign entities, and Mohegan Tribal Chairman Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum has warned legislators that passage of such a law will trigger a long and costly court battle, during which the tribe would withhold its current payments to the state of 25 percent of the take on the casino's slot machines.

For the complete story, please see Ted Mann, Second committee approves proposed casino smoking ban bill, TheDay.com, April 20, 2009.