Kenosha labor leaders and local Democratic state legislators are calling on Gov. Scott Walker to immediately approve a tribal casino they say will bring much-needed jobs to southeastern Wisconsin.
The Potawatomi tribe has threatened to withhold its $25 million casino compact payment to the state if the governor approves the Menominee tribe’s federally approved casino in Kenosha. Walker said on Tuesday that he is negotiating with both the tribes now.
The Menominee tribe has promised to cover any revenue the Potawatomi’s Milwaukee casino loses once the Kenosha casino opens.
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Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, whose district includes Kenosha, said that Walker is dragging his feet on a project that would help him fulfill his promise to create more jobs. Casino supporters like him say it will create 1,000 construction jobs and 5,000 more jobs once it opens.
Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, however, said those numbers can’t be verified until a final study on the economic viability of the casino is complete. Vos said he’s in favor of the casino, though he said he’ll change that position if the study predicts the state would have to make up losses other tribal casinos might suffer.
He said that Democrats don’t seem to care about that.
“They don’t care about ultimately if tax payers are on the hook, and they don’t actually care about what the final ramifications are of the negotiations,” said Vos. “That’s part of being on the political side and not doing it based on facts.”
Some Democratic leaders say Walker is waiting to sign off on the casino until closer to the election when it will benefit his him politically. A new Marquette University poll released on Wednesday shows the Kenosha casino has strong support, especially in the Milwaukee media market.
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