Ho-Chunk Make $30 Million Pre-Payment to the State on Future Compact Obligations

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

The Ho-Chunk Nation and the State of Wisconsin will suspend arbitration on their compact dispute and will continue working to reach a final settlement of the issues surrounding the Nation's gaming compact, the two parties announced today. As part of the move, the Ho-Chunk Nation will make a good faith, $30 million pre-payment on future compact obligations to the State.

"I am pleased the Ho-Chunk have agreed to make a $30 million good faith payment to the State of Wisconsin, and I look forward to bringing final resolution to the process very soon," Administration Secretary Steve Bablitch said. "It is in everyone's best interest that a settlement is reached quickly, and we will continue working to reach a conclusion that is fair to the Tribe and favorable to taxpayers of Wisconsin."

Ho-Chunk Nation President George Lewis concurred, noting that he is pleased to continue negotiations.

"The Ho-Chunk Nation is pleased that negotiations will move forward, and we hope that this pre-payment on potential future compact payments to the State will be recognized as a good faith gesture and smooth the way for ongoing talks," Lewis said today. "The Ho-Chunk are very proud of our partnership with the State of Wisconsin and our role in growing and sustaining a healthy Wisconsin economy."

The State and the Ho-Chunk Nation also announced the following:

• The parties will stay their arbitration proceedings until outstanding legal appeals are settled.
• The parties will continue negotiations during the stay of arbitration in an effort to reach a final settlement of the issues surrounding the Nation's gaming compact.
• The $30 million pre-payment made now by the Nation will be credited against future compact payments to the State.

The arbitration was first initiated in June, 2005.