Walker says he's still trying to work on casino deal

Gov. Scott Walker says he's still trying to work out a deal before a Feb. 19 deadline that would allow the Menominee Tribe to open a new casino in Kenosha.Walker was asked Monday about a WISN-TV report that said the state and Menominee Tribe are close to reaching agreement on a new gambling compact.Walker says "That's just one more step in terms of what may or may not happen."He says the "biggest stumbling block" is trying to reach a deal that would not result in the state having to refund $100 million in potential lost revenue to the Potawatomi Tribe if the Kenosha Casino moves forward.On Monday, a spokesperson for the Menominee Tribe told FOX 11 News in a written statement: "We expect the new Menominee Tribe compact amendment to be signed this week. Once signed and approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Governor Walker will have a clear path to approve the Kenosha casino."A spokesperson for the Potawatomi Tribe reacted to the news of a new deal with the following statement: “Regardless of what casino proponents try to spin, it’s clear that the Kenosha casino could put a substantial hole in Wisconsin’s budget and send hundreds of millions of dollars to the Florida Seminole Tribe who will develop and operate it.”The Executive Director of Enough Already, a special interest group opposed to the casino, echoed those sentiments, saying: "The Menominee Tribe’s compact expected amendment should in no way be interpreted as approval by Gov. Walker and will require very careful consideration, for what it claims to deliver in relation to what it may cost taxpayers. This compact amendment’s impact on the state’s potential legal exposure and the projected annual bill that may exceed $100s of millions deserves careful consideration in the coming weeks."The proposed $800 million Hard Rock hotel and casino would be located at the former site of the Dairyland Greyhound Track.