House Democrats have rescheduled votes on two Native American tribal bills this week after they were yanked from the floor at the last minute following pressure from President Trump.
Democratic leadership has set a vote for Wednesday on H.R. 312, legislation co-sponsored by Rep. William Keating, D-Mass., maintaining the status of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe reservation in the Bay State.
A second proposal, H.R. 375, introduced by Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., would reaffirm Interior Secretary David Bernhardt’s authority to take land into trust on behalf of Indian tribes. That measure is also due to be considered Wednesday, but under a streamlined process requiring two-thirds support in the House. As such, it needs the backing of House Republicans.
“Both of the bills pulled from the floor of the House, H.R. 375 and H.R. 312, are important to Indian Country,” Cole told the Washington Examiner in a statement on Monday. “I support both of the bills and look forward to working with my Republican and Democratic colleagues to pass them on the floor. I believe we will be successful in doing so.”
But GOP lawmakers like Western Caucus Chairman Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., have said they will not help the legislation pass the chamber. A spokeswoman for Gosar told the Washington Examiner on Monday her boss, who sits on the House Natural Resources Committee with Cole, was “strongly opposed” to the proposals and would vote against them “in their current form.”
“Gosar has been leading the charge against these bills since they were first brought up in Natural Resources Committee. He offered two amendments to both bill in committee — both failed,” the spokeswoman said.
H.R. 312 and H.R. 375 were originally scheduled for votes on May 8, but were yanked after Trump tweeted that they would be “unfair” to Native Americans.
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe wants to build a $1 billion casino on its land, but the deal has been delayed by the Interior Department and Rhode Island lawmakers worried the development will undercut profits generated by its own casino industry.
The opposition has resulted in the Massachusetts congressional delegation, including Democratic 2020 presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, to push for the measure so the tribe can have full control of the reservation. Matt Schlapp, American Conservative Union chairman and husband of White House communications director Mercedes Schlapp, additionally runs a firm that lobbied against the casino.
“Republicans shouldn’t vote for H.R. 312, a special interest casino Bill, backed by Elizabeth (Pocahontas) Warren,” Trump tweeted last Wednesday. “It is unfair and doesn’t treat Native Americans equally!”
Schlapp did not immediately respond to request for comment.
