Casino Challenge Shot Down

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Gaming opponents vow to continue fight
Posted: 1:51 PM Jul 25, 2008
Last Updated: 2:09 PM Jul 25, 2008

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The U.S. Justice Department says Nebraska has no legal standing to challenge the Ponca Indian Tribe's plan to build a casino in Carter Lake, Iowa.

Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning filed a complaint in U.S. District Court in Iowa. He contends that even though the Poncas' land sits in Iowa, Nebraska has a legitimate interest because Carter Lake is surrounded by Omaha.

In a motion to dismiss the Nebraska complaint, U.S. attorneys say the bottom line is that Carter Lake is in Iowa.

Federal authorities have already approved the Poncas' proposal.

Carter Lake was originally on the Missouri River's east side, but flooding left the city on the west side. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1892 that the city still belonged to Iowa.

Bruning plans to file a response to be considered by an Iowa District judge.

The organization Gambling with the Good Life says if the Judge rules against them, they will appeal. They say, "This case is not over. It could go on for months or years yet."

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Posted by: HA! on Jul 30, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Strike 2! Bruning and the GGL need a new hobby and quit wasting STATE resources to fight a battle they can't win (even months or years from now) nor should they even be trying. If they used that same energy to combat gang violence, illegal immigrants (the fact that recent gang arrests were comprised mostly of illegals who re-entered our country suggests both issues could be addressed at the same time) and lowering our tax burden, our quality of life in this state would greatly improve.

Posted by: llr on Jul 30, 2008 at 08:32 AM
The only thing that's "going on" is that Nebraska will do anything to keep gambling out of it. Officially Carter Lake is Iowa but is surrounded by Omaha. I can't imagine the tax relief we would all be enjoying had the casino gambling proposal been passed at the last vote. Thanks, 3rd District. Thanks a LOT.

Posted by: Jim on Jul 30, 2008 at 07:29 AM
Jim from Omaha ... Please explain to the rest of us "what's actually going on".

Posted by: Jim on Jul 29, 2008 at 04:22 PM
Tim, Jon Bruning knows Carter Lake is in Iowa. It's too bad you're too dense to figure out what's actually going on.

Posted by: Jerry on Jul 29, 2008 at 09:05 AM
Think that their is no gambeling in NE? HA! Lottery, Keno, Horses, Pickels, heck even BINGO! Jon Bruning, get your head out of your butt, and look around. Now they want to tell another state how to run their affairs? I hope Carter Lake puts a bridge accross the river to CB, that way they will have a reliable way to transport the equipment, that Jon Bruning can't mess with.

Posted by: Bob on Jul 29, 2008 at 08:48 AM
A casino right down the road from the new stadium, casinos just across the river. With the higher taxes where do you think the people will go stay at? I would stay at the casino.

Posted by: Common Sense on Jul 28, 2008 at 06:03 PM
Bruning and Gambling with the Good Life: why are you harassing Iowa? Does it really take any less time to get to Carter Lake than it does to Council Bluffs? This is ridiculous, and I'm glad you lost. Next point, why do you invest so much energy in this when you allow gambling here in Nebraska? That's right, if you don't think Keno is gambling, you're completely delusional. What makes it even more jacked up, is that Keno has bartenders running their game, instead of dealers that only focus on the game, like at casinos. This state has it's hypocritical head so far up its overly-conservative...

Posted by: Tim on Jul 28, 2008 at 04:51 PM
Our Attorney General had to go before a judge in order to discover that Carter Lake is actually in Iowa? (Thats pretty much what happened here). Yeah, thanks pal. When are you up for re-election?

Posted by: Patrick on Jul 28, 2008 at 08:56 AM
Kent & Jeff, you forgot to account for the Iowa residents who are registering their cars out of state. Even with the higher registration cost in Nebraska, it's still cheaper than paying the wheel tax.

Posted by: Jeff on Jul 27, 2008 at 11:08 PM
Kent, you only have part of the story. A lot of those Nebraska cars belong to commuters who couldn't find any other place to park for their carpools, or they might be riding the bus, because that's the only place MAT could find parking for its Park and Ride program.

Posted by: Kent on Jul 27, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Josh, after digging a bit deeper, I learned that all those Nebraska plates in the casino parking lots belong to people who keep going over to count Nebraska plates. As it turns out, few Nebraskans ever make it out of the parking lots and into the casinos ;)

Posted by: About the Toll Roads on Jul 26, 2008 at 08:25 PM
To those of you who want to build a toll road. Alot of the money that it would cost to build a bridge to from Iowa to Carter Lake would be paid for with Nebraska money. Anyone who wants to go gambling would pay the toll anyway. The tolls from it wouldn't help you anyhow except to pay for Bruning and Fahey's plans. If you want to keep having dumb ideas please keep them to yourself!!!!

Posted by: View of Eagles on Jul 26, 2008 at 07:39 PM
Iowan Indian, do you have any idea how much the tribe gets after the gambling industry takes its cuts? Then will the average Ponka tribesman see any money? In many tribes, the head council keeps all of the money--just like an American corporation! The best way for Joe Ponka to get money from the casino is to work there. How many Ponka tribe members live in the area? Here's the problem: gambling interests have a big budget to sell you an image of grateful Ponka members, so you can feel good believing the lie. If you feel the need to help them by gambling, I recommend you also visit their land to see how much of a difference you're making.

Posted by: Jackpot on Jul 26, 2008 at 04:26 PM
LOL. Good for Carter Lake. Please take pity on us here in Omaha and donate some of the money to relieve our overly high property taxes, fund our poorly run public schools, maintain our crappy roads, pay our retired at 40 police and firemen (God bless them)fund our food banks that never have enough, maintain some of our shoddy parks. Hell, while your at it, can I get a low interest loan so I can afford to live here another year. I love Omaha and have nothing against Iowa; CB or Carter Lake. If they want a Casino on their land, let them have it.

Posted by: Iowan Indian on Jul 26, 2008 at 04:22 PM
Go Indians! Get yer money back from the White folk and buy up all the land they stole from you. AHO!

Posted by: Toll Road on Jul 26, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Toll booths on every road into or out of Carter Lake. 10 bucks per car, and say they'll stay up as long as the casinos do. Iowa can always spend millions to build a bridge to carter lake from Iowa.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 26, 2008 at 08:36 AM
And they wonder why a cell phone company calls Nebraska hicks.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 26, 2008 at 07:44 AM
Bruning's problem is he thinks he can control everything even IA now. Build the casino and all nebraska will come. Bruning say goodby to the the tax money, its going to IA. HAHA

Posted by: Scott on Jul 25, 2008 at 09:52 PM
Now this is good news! All the moronic powers at be are finally being held back! Good for Carter Lake

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 25, 2008 at 08:50 PM
good

Posted by: Josh on Jul 25, 2008 at 08:19 PM
Jon Bruning is a tool and all the people around here that voted against casinos here are too. People want to sell it that the Missouri River magically keeps the horrors of gambling out of Nebraska. Everyone knows most of the cars at the Council Bluffs casinos have Nebraska plates. Anyone here that wants to gamble is already doing so, so we already have any crime, bankrupt, etc that gaming brings. We just don't get any money for it. Don't cry about taxes being high when you throw MILLIONS across the river in tax dollars every year.

Posted by: Jeff on Jul 25, 2008 at 08:06 PM
Last i heard it was Carter Lake Iowa,not Carter Lake Nebraska.Its bad enough we have anti-gambling fanatics here blocking the way to have casinos here,but when they try to prevent another city in another state to do what they wish its gone to far.Good luck Ponca tribe,I hope you make lots of money in your new casino.

Posted by: Toney on Jul 25, 2008 at 07:27 PM
Thank you. Now they can all shut up.

Posted by: Jeff on Jul 25, 2008 at 06:04 PM
This casino is just one more way for the gambling industry to take advantage of another indian tribe. The white man will never stop finding new ways to oppress Native Americans.

Posted by: Nebraska resident on Jul 25, 2008 at 05:27 PM
Hooray, soon I won't have to cross the river. Stay tough, don't let Omaha bully you!!!

Posted by: A on Jul 25, 2008 at 04:53 PM
Would people just get off their high horses and let others build something that legally they are entitled to do? What do they think it's going to bring crime to the downtown North Omaha area? Where have they been the past decade? If anything it will bring job opportunites and growth, that's what Omaha wants right?

Posted by: nebraska on Jul 25, 2008 at 04:34 PM
duh. Nebraska can't tell an Iowa city what they can and can't do! Too Funny!!

Posted by: Lucky on Jul 25, 2008 at 04:22 PM
HA HA! Build it baby. May as well build two of them. I love to see the poor, over taxed saps of Nebraska lose. I hope that place is chock full of Omaha CASH! Ding Ding Ding.

Posted by: David on Jul 25, 2008 at 04:17 PM
Nebraska has no right to dictate what other states can and cannot do with their respective cities and land. Bottom line, Carter Lake is in IOWA, not Nebraska.

Posted by: could have been us on Jul 25, 2008 at 04:02 PM
If the people of Nebraska would have voted FOR casinos in Nebraska we would not be having this issue. Now Ponca tribe sees there is money to be made. I don't blame them.

Posted by: Curious on Jul 25, 2008 at 03:50 PM
Lets just start building the toll booths right now. If western NE is to stupid to vote for casinos because they will only benefit Omaha then we need to just make the roads in and out of Carter Lake toll roads and we can make our money that way. Either that or Carter Lake will be forced to become a part of the start they are currently located in. I just hope they make Carter Lake residents pay the same wheel tax the rest of us have to pay.

Posted by: carol on Jul 25, 2008 at 03:35 PM
Why is it everytime the Indians try to do something to bring some revenue to the tribe that the government tries to take it away from them? Carter Lake is Iowa. They license their cars there, they pay their taxes there so what does Nebraska have to do with them. Don't you think the Indians have had enough taken from them over the last 2 0r 3 hundred years? Leave them alone, let them build their casino and live their lives how they see fit. Brunning and The Good Life needs to back off and mind their own business.

Posted by: Please don't re-elect Bruning on Jul 25, 2008 at 03:22 PM
He's an idiot who only worries about his own agenda.

Posted by: Gunnar on Jul 25, 2008 at 03:19 PM
Duh. Took a federal court to decide this? What a waste of taxpayer money.

Posted by: The Good Life on Jul 25, 2008 at 03:19 PM
Amen ! IA is IA, not NE.......

Posted by: pete on Jul 25, 2008 at 03:17 PM
The dictator's of omaha politics lose again..Why don't you low lifes just quit running other people's lives; you can't even run your own pathetic gang shooting town.

Posted by: T on Jul 25, 2008 at 02:55 PM
Oh let them build the darn casino if Nebraska was SMART they would build one here to help with money for the community!!

Posted by: Charlie on Jul 25, 2008 at 02:48 PM
What was Bruning thinking!?!? That he can control what goes on in another state?

Posted by: seejayess on Jul 25, 2008 at 02:45 PM
Someone needs to tell Jon to let it go. The borders are clearly drawn.

Posted by: Mark on Jul 25, 2008 at 02:15 PM
Um, duh? Did Bruning get his law degree by watching People's Court?

Posted by: hal on Jul 25, 2008 at 02:08 PM
i agree with this ruling. carter lake belongs to us and we can choose what we want and what we dont want . nebraska keep your nose out of our business

Posted by: llr on Jul 25, 2008 at 02:03 PM
OK, I am laughing out loud so hard here at work people are beginning to stare...keep at it, Nebraska, trying to tie it up for "months or years"...the fact remains Carter Lake is in IOWA and eventually you'll meet up with a judge who will condemn you for filing a "frivilous lawsuit". Rock on, Ponca Tribe!