The Mohegan Tribe put elected officials on notice Wednesday when it sent this letter to Gov. M. Jodi Rell and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal telling them that if they continue to pursue legislation to ban smoking in its casino, it may seek legal action and put the state’s slot revenue in jeopardy.
“I must inform you that if this legislation is approved, that action will force us to vigorously defend our federally recognized right to govern our lands. I will be compelled to initiate legal action on behalf of the Mohegan Tribe to stop this assault on our rights,” Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum, chairman of Mohegan Tribe wrote to Rell. “As you will see, legal action may put in jeopardy our slot contribution to the state of Connecticut.”
“I strongly disagree with the tribe’s legal analysis of the smoking ban bill before the General Assembly, although I understand and respect tribal sovereignty,” Blumenthal said in an emailed statement Wednesday. “The legislative proposal is constitutional and consistent with legal principles of sovereignty.”