Dodd helps Indian Casino in his state get $54 million in stimulus

[PeshakJang]

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/moheg...eceived-54-million-stimulus/story?id=10889408

With the support of Sen. Chris Dodd, D.-Conn., the federal government has awarded $54 million to Connecticut's politically well-connected Mohegan Indian tribe, which operates one of the highest grossing casinos in the U.S.

The tribe runs the sprawling Mohegan Sun casino, halfway between New York City and Boston, which earned more than $1.3 billion in gross revenues in 2009. Each tribe member receives a cut of the profits, a number a tribal official said was "less than $30,000" per capita per year. The stimulus money is a loan from a U.S. Department of Agriculture rural development program that is meant to help communities of less than 20,000 people that have been "unable to obtain other credit at reasonable rates and terms and are unable to finance the proposed project from their own resources."

Why is Dodd not in prison? Does anybody still believe that "stimulus" money is anything but a new name for "pork barrel" money? This has got to be one of the greatest scams ever perpetuated, and with Obama asking for more and more "emergency" spending every day, there is no end in sight. Billions and billions of dollars for Democratic congressmen to buy votes in their home states... does anybody doubt that there will be massive "stimulus" spending prior to November? How much "emergency stimulus" money will we need for the Gulf? What fraction of that money will actually go to people who need it? How much will go to Gulf coast casinos?

 

[rudder]

What are you crying about? The stimulus money creates jobs... and your great grandchildren will have to pay it off... not you.

I think we will here a lot more of this around September of this year when a large percentage of stimulus money is expected to be doled out... just in time for November elections. Gotta love Chicago-style pizza... I mean politics.

 

[boomerang]

Dodd should be in prison for far, far more than this. He's not in prison because he makes the rules.

We should all be thankful he's a short-timer. But of course there's another dirtbag waiting in the wings to take his place.

 

[PeshakJang]

What are you crying about? The stimulus money creates jobs...

Oh I am aware of that... Obama is on the campaign trail again (did he ever leave it?) to brag about a road construction project in Ohio today. Maybe if they skimmed oil from the Gulf to pour on the roads in Ohio, he'd be able to look like a president who solves problems instead of a candidate who doesn't even try.

 

[highland145]

Are the casino profits untaxed?

 

[Genx87]

Are the casino profits untaxed?

I am not entirely sure. But I am guessing if it is on Indian land it may not be, at least on the state level?

 

[Schadenfroh]

Are the casino profits untaxed?

Curious about this as well, they are building Casinos on Indian reservations in my home area, despite state law forbidding them in most areas of the state. The county even has anti-liquor laws.

Personally, I do not see why Indian reservations are necessary these days, other than some form of reparation.

That being said, $54 million is pocket change (or rather change found on the street that is not worth picking up) these days.

 

[PeshakJang]

Are the casino profits untaxed?

From what I read, indian casinos are exempt from federal and state income taxes. The employees are still subject to personal income tax on their wages. Several states also have profit sharing with their states to include a portion of their gambling income. I read that The Mohegan Sun gives 25% of it's slots income to the state of Connecticut . Give a little, get a little.

 

[highland145]

From what I read, indian casinos are exempt from federal and state income taxes. The employees are still subject to personal income tax on their wages. Several states also have profit sharing with their states to include a portion of their gambling income. I read that The Mohegan Sun gives 25% of it's slots income to the state of Connecticut . Give a little, get a little.

Sounds like a good deal. 25% of the slots and none of the other revenue.

 

[tk149]

Has anyone actually argued that stimulus money is NOT pork barrel money?

 

[child of wonder]

Who cares? The government can just print all the money it wants anyway.

I say we all get a $50B stimulus check! Then you'll all quit your bitching!

 

[PeshakJang]

Has anyone actually argued that stimulus money is NOT pork barrel money?

Just about every thread regarding "stimulus" has had people arguing vehemently about how it is necessary and saved us from a depression, created millions of jobs, not that much money for what we get, not used to buy votes, etc.

 

[Thump553]

Are the casino profits untaxed?

There is a compact (ie, treaty) between the tribe and CT that Connecticut gets 25% of the gross slot machine revenues from the casino (these casinos are almost entirely slots). I don't know what their arrangement with the feds is.

The fact of the matter is the southeastern quarter of CT was essentially an economic dead zone (excluding Electric Boat and the sub base, which are also public subsidized jobs in my view) for decades before the casinos came in. The two casinos have intentionally over hired for years now and have been an enormous economic engine in that region.

BTW the linked article says the ENTIRE CT Congressional delegation helped secure this LOAN (not giveaway), not just Dodd.