Massachusetts Governor Patrick “Frustrated” By Fed’s Ruling On Taunton Casino Compact

Gov. Deval Patrick calls 'very frustrating' the federal government's rejection of a casino compact the state had reached with the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe.  Patrick told reporters on Monday that he planned to reopen negotiations with the tribe but offered no timetable on when a revised compact might be completed.

The governor would not indicate whether he might agree to lower the percentage of gambling revenues the state would receive if a tribal casino was built in Taunton. The Bureau of Indian Affairs said in rejecting the compact last week that the 21.5 percent revenue allotment was too high and would hurt the tribe.

Patrick noted that the state and the tribe negotiated the compact in good faith and said the bureau was wrong to substitute its judgment for that of the two parties. (Associated Press)