Indian Gaming > McCain goofs on NIGC name at EchoHawk hearing

May 15, 2009

McCain goofs on NIGC name at EchoHawk hearing

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Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) was an original sponsor of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and made gaming a top priority during his recent tenure as chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee but he got the name of the National Indian Gaming Commission wrong during the recent confirmation hearing for Larry EchoHawk to be assistant secretary of Indian affairs at the Department of the Interior.

McCain referred to NIGC as the "Indian Gaming Regulatory Commission" when he asked EchoHawk, a member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, about gaming issues. He also said Indian gaming has "plagued" the nation despite his well-reported patronage of tribal casinos.

"You should know that this is a huge issue," McCain told EchoHawk of gaming.

McCain called NIGC the "Indian Gaming Regulatory Commission" a second time when he talked about a recent court decision that limited the agency's role in Class III gaming.

The line of questions begins around 72 minutes into the video feed.

Get the Story:
EchoHawk praised at Senate nomination hearing (Indian Country Today 5/15)