"We don't go out there and judge any other group of people," said Tigua Lt. Gov. Carlos Hisa.
Rep. Valinda Bolton, D-Austin, said the practice of allowing only men to cast ballots concerned her, but she welcomed a meeting between Tigua women and female legislators -- a meeting hastily arranged by Rep. Norma Chavez, D-El Paso, after Bolton questioned the custom.
"The right to vote is a basic human right, and the tribe has economic development issues," Bolton said. "Those are true things; they are both true at the same time. So I am looking forward" to talking to the women.
The Tiguas are lobbying legislators to approve legislation that would allow them to reopen a casino shut down after then-Texas Attorney General John Cornyn, now a U.S. senator, successfully sued in 2001.
The tribe said the casino put $800 million into the local economy and provided about 800 jobs.
Two House committees are expected to consider the measure next week.
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