The Times-Herald Record has an interview in today's paper with Senator Schumer on the future of the proposed Monticello Casino in Sullivan County, and it's not looking so good for supporters. In Schumer's words: "This is not a slam-dunk in any sense of the word."

Schumer's been a long-time supporter of the casino, and Spitzer is on board. But the problem is at the federal level. The casino is an "off-reservation casino," and Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne has to approve it. Like most folks in Washington these days, he's not a big fan of off-reservation casinos. 

Schumer says he's talked to Kempthorne on the phone, and it's clear that the interior secretary is worried about the precedent it would set if he approved Monticello. There are lots of off-reservation apps pending, and saying "yes" to one could be disastrous.

The last resort is to wait for the next administration to take up the cause. And the way things are going, that may be the only option...