Hartford (WTNH) _ A big battle with Connecticuts Indian tribes is brewing over second-hand smoke.

The states two tribe operated casinos are one of the few places in the state where smokers can do what they want and smoke at the same time. But it has now become a political issue because the union attempting to organize dealers and other employees that want the state to extend the smoking ban to the casinos.

"People that I work with, and myself, have developed respiratory illness. Ive developed asthma since I worked there," said Denise Gladue, a dealer at Foxwoods.

"Its a health issue, people get sick from breathing second hand smoke," said Dave Cantor, a dealer at Foxwoods.

"I have never smoked a day in my life and I started to have problems about a year-and-a-half after I started to work there," said Tom DeLorme, a dealer at Foxwoods.

Realizing that the issue could end up in court, Governor Rell said today she is not taking an official position. "Im not taking sides right now…but I want to share with you…I absolutely hate being in a room where theres smoking," she said.

The bill before the committee would link the ban to the casino liquor permits. Under the states compacts with the tribes, they agree to observe the liquor statutes. So the legislative leadership has asked the attorney general for an opinion.

"The question will be whether a ban on smokers can be reasonable tied to public safety protections that are inherent in a liquor license," said Atty. Gen. Richard Blumenthal.

Blumenthals opinion is expected to come sometime next week. Both casinos already have designated non-smoking areas and sources say Blumenthal is attempting to broker some sort of compromise.

But a spokesman for the Mohegan tribe, Chuck Bunnell, says theyre ready for a fight. "If the State of Connecticut starts putting things on that law regarding smoking, dress codes, all sorts of other things that might not pertain to that compact or that treaty between these two nations…the Mohegans absolutely will challenge it on the basis of sovereignty," he said.