Norwich — A Tuesday meeting hosted by Mayor Peter Nystrom between Gov. Ned Lamont and southeastern Connecticut business leaders and elected officials about the tribal casinos’ importance to the region’s economy has been postponed.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, a state legislative committee will be in the midst of a public hearing on a number of gaming bills that could have an impact on the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes, which share their casinos' slot-machine winnings with the state while providing thousands of jobs. The hearing begins at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

State Sen. Cathy Sprague, D-Sprague, who pushed for the meeting with Lamont, said Monday she will be in Hartford to attend the public hearing being conducted by the Public Safety and Security Committee, of which she is a member. One of the bills before the committee calls for a competitive-bidding process for another casino in the state.

MGM Resorts International, which has proposed a Bridgeport casino, has been a proponent of competitive bidding among casino operators.

“This is our fourth year dealing with this issue and each time we come to the same resolution," Osten said. "And each time we expect our tribal leaders to come up to Hartford and explain themselves. … We don’t ask that of any other businesses."

Osten said she thought it was time to start engaging elected leaders in the region who have constituents who work at the casinos. Many of the leaders, she said, had asked for a meeting with Lamont to express their support for the tribes and their opposition to a Bridgeport casino.

b.hallenbeck@theday.com