LEDYARD, Conn. (AP) -- Once the envy of Indian Country for its billion-dollar casino empire, the tribe that owns the Foxwoods Resort Casino has been struggling through a financial crisis and pursuing more revenue from an unlikely source: U.S. government grants.
The money provided annually to the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation through the Interior Department and the Department of Health and Human Services has risen over the last five years to more than $4.5 million, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press through the Freedom of Information Act.
One former tribal employee says department leaders encouraged to offset dwindling resources by seeking more federal grants.
The Pequots, who once distributed stipends exceeding $100,000 annually to adult members, are not alone among gaming tribes seeking more federal aid. Several, including the owner of Foxwoods' rival Connecticut casino, the Mohegan Sun, say they have been pursuing more grants — a trend that critics find galling because the law that gave rise to Indian casinos was intended to help tribes become financially self-sufficient.
Hello, yes this is Barack Obama, how may I help you?
And, you are who, again, Mitchell Etess. and you are CEO of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, Ok, what can I do for you?
You are having financial problems, what do you think I have here?
Ha, ha, your casino is having a hard time, you're losing money, in a casino, yea, right, that's a laugh.
No, really, what can I do for you?
Really, you have a gambling casino and it is losing money, and you want me, us, to help bail you out, what do you mean we owe you? All the other casinos are hurting too, and t h e y also need help.
Yes, I just gave some money to Jordan, no, it wasn't the basketball player, it was the country, we might have to borrow money from Michael. Hey, it's tough here too, I was talking with a guy today about selling some of our national parks to keep this ship afloat, it's tough all over.
We did all we could a few years ago to make you redskins self sufficient.
I'm sorry, that slipped out, I get tired of always having to hand out money.
Why are you laughing?
One suggestion, cut out all the entertainment and the sports and concentrate on gambling, that's all you need to do. Cut back on your expenses, that's what we do here in Washington .......
Cut out that damned laughing, what, oh, I'm sorry, my chopper is here, heading out again. Call Joe or Nancy, they're good with grants. Send up a smoke signal, you redskins are good at that, aw, sorry again, but you guys aren't a big voting block.
