ORANGEBURG - Sen. Lindsey Graham said he wants more time to consider the consequences of federal legislation that would grant the Catawba Indian Nation the ability to build a high-stakes bingo hall in Orangeburg County.

"My concern is that I don't want to do anything at the federal level that would allow an expansion of gambling into the area of casinos," he said.

Graham, R-S.C., had supported a proposed law sought by the Catawbas and pushed by Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., that would place the tribe under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

That would allow the tribe to pursue Class II gaming, which includes a type of higher-stakes bingo prohibited under its 1993 agreement with the state and federal governments.

That agreement gave the Catawbas the right to open two bingo halls. They opened one in Rock Hill in 1997 and are eyeing land for a second business near Santee, off Interstate 95.

"The lawyer in me is making me ask questions," Graham said. "What consequences will this have for the state when I'm dead and gone?"

Clyburn said he wants to see the Senate pass the bill.

"There are over 500 tribes recognized in this country, and only four aren't under the gaming act," Clyburn said. "I've always felt that the Catawbas ought to be brought under IGRA."

IGRA status would free the Catawbas from the restrictions imposed in the previous agreement and they could operate the bingo hall around the clock instead of just 12 hours a day. They also could use bingo machines as well as traditional cards; "network" with bingo operations in other states; and offer jackpots above the present $100,000 limit.

That's the only way the Santee operation could be profitable, Catawba Chief Gilbert Blue told Gov. Mark Sanford during a meeting Thursday.

"We talked with him for 35 to 40 minutes. He was very cordial and friendly, but cordiality does not get bills passed, unfortunately," Blue said. "We told him about the [economic] impact to Santee and what it would mean to the Catawbas. We told him if this thing doesn't go through, there are going to be a lot of upset people in Santee."

Sanford, a Republican who served with Graham in the House from 1995 to 2001, has said he wants the Catawbas' gambling operations to stick to the rules described in the 1993 accord.

"Our concern is that this legislation could be creating a federal loophole used to bring casino gambling to this state," said Sanford's spokesman, Chris Drummond.

The tribe's attorney, Jay Bender, said he doesn't understand the governor's objections.

"The governor would fall all over himself to get an industry in the Santee area that would provide the economic benefits of the Catawbas' project, but for whatever reason he has decided that he is opposed to the tribe's effort to make money for itself and bring jobs and money to an area of high unemployment," Bender said.