THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

           PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES MONTIE R. DEER AS CHAIR OF
                  THE NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING COMMISSION

The President today announced the recess appointment of Montie R. Deer to serve as Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC). Mr. Deer was nominated to the Senate on July 30, 1998. Currently, his nomination is pending before the Senate.

Mr. Montie R. Deer, of Wichita, Kansas, served as Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Kansas from 1994 to October 1998. From 1983 to 1994, Mr. Deer served as a State District Court Judge for the State of Kansas. From 1975 to 1982, Mr. Deer was a practicing attorney with several firms in Kansas, including Marvin R. Appling, Deer and Peters, and Michaud, Crammer, Syrios, Post & Levy. Mr. Deer has also served as Director of Legal Services for the North Topeka Indian Center, Member of the Board of Directors for the Mid American All-Indian Center and Member of the Wichita Warrior Society.

Mr. Deer received his B.A. from the University of Wyoming, an M.S. from Emporia State Teacher's College, and a J.D. from Washburn University School of Law.

The NIGC was created to regulate all affairs relevant to gaming on Indian lands. The Commission is comprised of two Commissioners and a Chair. The Chair oversees the day-to-day operations, and has the power to issue temporary orders closing gaming activities, levying and collecting civil fines, approving regulations and classification of gaming classes and approving management contracts for Class II and III gaming. It is imperative that the NIGC have a quorum to decide issues of major consequence to Indian gaming. By law, most of the authority of the board rests with the Chairman. Without a Chairman the NIGC is greatly hindered in fulfilling its mission.

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