Fruitport Township Supervisor Brian Werschem said it was beyond disappointing. McCullough called Wednesday’s vote frustrating. Jennifer Granholm and Little River Band Ogema Larry Romanelli earlier this year. Bennett, D-Muskegon Township, introduced the bill in April.Įven if the discharge vote had been approved, the resolution still would require a full House vote on whether to concur with the compact amendment signed by Gov.

Greg McCullough, Bennett’s legislative aide, said the roll-call vote was at 53-13 against the discharge when Bennett withdrew his request. Doug Bennett’s request to have his bill discharged was on the verge of defeat during a House floor vote Wednesday when he had the board cleared and his request withdrawn. Published: Thursday, August 26, 2010, 12:33 AM Updated: Thursday, August 26, 2010, 1:11 AM by Eric GaertnerįRUITPORT TOWNSHIP - The chances of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians building a casino at the former Great Lakes Downs racetrack site suffered a setback Wednesday.The state House, which is required to concur with a compact amendment allowing the tribe to open an off-reservation casino in Muskegon County, failed to even approve the discharge of the resolution from committee. The Muskegon Chronicle has the news story:įruitport casino plan gets the cold shoulder from Michigan House of Representatives Supporters say, the new casino would have brought 3000 new jobs to Muskegon County.Yesterday the Michigan House had to clear the board to prevent a huge loss on the vote to discharge the compact (a concurrent resolution) from the Reg Reform committee. In a statement Wednesday, Whitmer blamed the Department of Interior for her decision, saying it put her in an “impossible situation.”

However, the Department of Interior rejected that request. Whitmer then, asked the Department of Interior for an extension on the June 16th deadline. In what was once considered to be a formality, the Governor’s office says, approval became not so automatic after the Grand River Band of Ottawa Indians, who have been seeking Federal Recognition for over 20 years, claimed rightful ownership to the land on which the casino would be built. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer Wednesday refused to sign off on a proposed casino in Muskegon County, ending a campaign that started over a decade ago.Īfter 12 years of planning, The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians proposed $180 million casino in Fruitport Township is officially dead, as Governor Gretchen Whitmer refused to give construction her final approval.

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