Skabewis

Fort Lauderdale, Florida (AP)

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has touted publicly that the billions it makes off gambling has helped it become self-sufficient, but a newspaper investigation shows that it is still pulling in millions of dollars in federal government grants while claiming financial limitations.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel, in a recent story , detailed numerous examples of the tribe claiming financial constraints when it sought federal help, like when it asked for thousands of dollars to pay for new officers, an airboat and computers for its police department – all of it needed because its casinos were drawing bigger crowds.

The tribe also sent a $123,130 bill to the Federal Emergency Management Agency after members evacuated to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood ahead of Hurricane Frances in 2004. Records show the guests rang up charges for 150 rooms, plus movies, alcohol, valet parking and expensive meals at the hotel, which the tribe owns. After rejecting initial claims, FEMA eventually paid $103,864. In a five-year period ending in 2005, the tribe took in more than $3.2 billion in revenues while collecting $80 million in government aid, according to the tribe’s annual audits. The tribe’s almost 3,400 members each receive $120,000 annually from its enterprises.

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PrairieTX

Pretty interesting article. I am very interested to know exactly how these grants are awarded. Some of the grants requested and approved seem to exceed my tribe's entire annual budget. That's something that needs to be considered. I understand that annual revenue has never been something they consider, but when you have a tribe making millions, billions of dollars...it seems as though some of those funds used for airboats could go to tribes less fortunate to provide for things like education and senior care. I will have to say though...the Seminole and Miccosuki tribe really have created a successful business...but how lucky are they to be based in S. Fla. You won't see an expansive casino in let's say Lawton, Ok. :) Too bad I'm not Seminole.

WhoMe

So's? Don't the millionaires and billionaires living in South Florida also get tremendous tax breaks adding to additional millions/billions of dollars - that they get to pocket?

Nobody's cryin' about them.


Enterprise and becoming a part of the American dream is great.....


UNLESS YOU'RE INDIAN

__________________
"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe

FluteMaker

how do you get 120K$ a year and still count as less fortunate?

"The tribe’s almost 3,400 members each receive $120,000 annually from its enterprises."

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No bomb is smart enough to not kill the innocent.

PrairieTX

Not sure how valid that number is, but back when I was a teen many of my seminole friends were getting about 40k. And that was before the casino explosion...could be very real.

But the rich do get richer and the poor do get poorer. That's typically what happens when the government steps in to "fix" things. However, as unfair as it seems...it is the way we have lived for ages and it's better than living in a third world I suppose.

If the Seminoles are willing to take advantage of the stupidity of our government... it has allowed them to take care of many of their members...

PrairieTX

I don't think you understood that post...less fortunate was describing other tribes that are truly living below the poverty lines. $120,000 is not less fortunate.

WhoMe

I guess my point is:

"Economic prosperity does not release the federal government of trust obligations to federally recognized tribes."

__________________
"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe

billyjoejimbob

I remember when being a poor minority meant you had nothing and you envied the rich.

Now the poor minorities get all the money and tax breaks and are equal to the rich.

And us middle class still get skrewed. (i got a small bonus at work and they taxed it 42%) So the government took credit for almost half of the hard work I did.

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There are 2 types of people in the world...
Really stupid people who think they are smart
and
Really smart people who think they are smart.

PrairieTX

That is what the article included as well.

My point: Are certain federally recognized tribes getting a larger percentage of the funding simply because they have more money, more lobbyists, and more means of getting those grants that could truly go to tribes that need it.

Just curious as to how they're granted and how equally or unequally funds are given out. If the Seminole receive $100,000,000 one year and the Kiowa get $42,000...seems to be something wrong there...those numbers aren't correct or valid in any way, but just used to show a point.

If anyone has any knowledge of how they are distributed and what is needed to grant them, I would love to learn more.