Tribes upset over smoking ban bill

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - The chairman of the Mohegan Tribe says he'll take the state of Connecticut to court if a bill to limit smoking in the state's two tribal casinos becomes law.

Bruce "Two Dogs" Bozsum says the bill, which recently cleared a legislative committee, violates the tribal sovereignty of the Mohegans and the Mashantucket Pequots, owners of Foxwoods Resort Casino.

If the bill becomes law, Bozsum says he'll take Connecticut to federal court and withhold the state's 25 percent share of the Mohegan Sun casino's slot machine revenues.

Under the legislation, the casinos could face the loss of their state liquor permits if they don't enter agreements with the governor to reduce secondhand smoke. Bozsum says Connecticut would be the first state to try and regulate smoking on federal Indian lands.

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