PUERTO RICO : Governors Favor Casino, Water Plans

U.S. governors gave preliminary approval to a proposal limiting federal authority over Indian gaming and giving states more leeway in water quality testing. The executive board of the National Governors’ Assn. endorsed a proposal opposing any effort to give the secretary of the Interior the authority to decide whether casino gaming is allowed on Indian reservations. The governors’ executive committee also endorsed a proposal encouraging flexibility under the Clean Water Act. Ohio Gov. George Voinovich said current federal law requires his state to conduct expensive drinking water tests for the presence of dozens of agricultural chemicals, although only nine of those chemicals are even used in the state. About 30 U.S. governors are attending the National Governors’ Assn.’s annual meeting, which continues through Tuesday in Fajardo.