Judge Agrees With Rincon Band:
5/2/2008, PRnewswire
RINCON, Calif., May 2 /PRNewswire/ -- A San Diego federal district court magistrate has found the Schwarzenegger administration's demands for large payments by the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians to the state's general fund, in return for a gaming compact amendment that allows the tribe to add additional slot machines, to be an illegal tax in violation of federal law.
Governor responds to Bee's criticism of casino compact
5/2/2008, Op Ed- Andrea Lynn Hoch - Fresno Bee
We are perplexed by The Bee's opposition to the tribal-state gaming compact recently signed by the North Fork Rancheria and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The gaming facility proposed by the tribe has the support of the local community in which it will be located, and the compact includes strong protections for patrons, workers and the environment.
Casino bill clears its first hurdle
5/2/2008, The Fresno Bee
A bill to allow the city of Porterville to work with the Tule River tribe of American Indians on development projects -- including the possible relocation of the Eagle Mountain Casino from the the foothill reservation to the edge of the city -- has cleared its first committee vote in the state Assembly. Assembly Bill 1884, introduced in February by Assembly Member Bill Maze, R-Visalia, would authorize a joint-powers authority of the two bodies solely for economic development of about 200 acres of land near the Porterville Airport. Maze's bill cleared the Assembly's Local Government Committee this week by a bipartisan 6-0 vote.
Casino causes controversy for tribe
5/2/2008, Record-Bee
LAKE COUNTY -- Labeled "dissidents" in media and by the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo tribal leaders, Scotts Valley Pomos Les Miller, formal tribal Chairman, and Steve Elliott were the main engineers behind getting federal recognition for the tribe, which became legally recognized in 1999. Now they feel the desire for money and a profitable casino in the Bay Area is pulling the family apart. "Money has really changed the family. If you get money you go berserk, now we're like strangers," Elliott said.
Local Tribe Files Suit Over Slots Fee
5/2/2008, San Diego Channel 10 News
SAN DIEGO -- Slot machines at Indian casinos throughout San Diego County account for millions of dollars -- money Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to help offset the state's massive budget deficit. "The state does not have the right to impose taxes on another sovereign government," said Bo Mazzetti, Vice Chairman of the Rincon Band. That is the gist of a ruling by a federal magistrate this week. The issues stem from a gambling compact negotiated in 1999 in which tribes agreed to limit the number of slot machines to 2,000.
Opponents aim to stop U.S. tribal gaming
5/2/2008, Business Review Western Michigan
The U.S. Court of Appeals ruling last week in favor of the Gun Lake Tribe in Allegan County is an opportunity to "stop the expansion of tribal casino-gaming cold," according to John Bursch of Warner Norcross & Judd, attorney for Michigan Gambling Opposition -- MichGO. Although the tribe thought the recent ruling was MichGO's final effort to prevent the tribe from building a casino in Wayland, Bursch says it is not. The three-member panel unanimously agreed the Department of Interior did not violate the National Environmental Protection Act in determining to take 147 acres of land in Wayland Township into trust for use by the tribe. The judges split 2-1 over the constitutionality of a section of the Indian Reorganization Act.
The conspirators
5/2/2008, Ledger Dispatch
The latest example of manufactured controversy may be a late addendum to Tuesday's board of supervisors meeting, in which Chairman Richard Forster asked his colleagues to consider sending a correspondence to incumbent Congressman Dan Lungren (R-Gold River) about a former staff member now consulting for a local Indian tribe. The charged rhetoric at Tuesday's meeting included accusations that Peter Tateishi is using his access as a volunteer at Lungren campaign events to spy for his client, the Ione Band of Miwok Indians, which has been pursuing a multi-level casino development in Plymouth for years. | |
|
Upcoming Hearings
Public Comment Deadline: Off Reservation Proposal -of the Enterpise Rancheria proposed fee to trust land acquisition of 40 acres and the subsequent development of an off reservation casino resort complex in Yuba County. Mail comments to Amy Dutschke, acting Regional Director, Pacific Regional Office, BIA, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA. 92825. Written comments will be accepted through May 5, 2008.
Public Hearing: Off Reservation 228.04 acre trust acquisition and construction of casino project to be located within the City of Plymouth in Amador County, California.Mail comments to Amy Dutschke, acting Regional Director, Pacific Regional Office, BIA, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA. 92825. Written comments will be accepted through July 2, 2008,
Upcoming Conference
North American Regulators Association June 10-13, 2008 Register on Line: www.nagra.org
NCLGS - National Council of Legislators from Gaming States
Summer Meeting - June 13 -15, 2008 Napa Valley Marriott Hotel and Spa Napa, California. www.nclgs.org sign up online.
Presentations will include: bingo and charitable gaming, lottery, off reservation gaming
22nd National Conference on Problem Gambling. June 26-28, 2008, Long Beach, California. Register online:www.ncpgambling.org/conference
INDIAN COUNTRY'S WINNING HAND, October 16-17, 2008, Radisson Fort McDowell Resort & Casino Scottsdale/Fountian Hills, Arizona. Register online: www.law.asu.edu/ilp
LINKS and Legislation
Stand Up For California - Library
Stand Up For California - Helpful Links
###
State Legislation to Watch
AJR 39 - Assembly Member Huffman
Reaffirmation of the Winneman Wintu.
AB 1924 - Assembly Member Jeffries Changes the amount of charitable BINGO funds that may be used for overhead and other operational expenses.
AB 2026 - Assembly Member Levine -
The California Gambling Control in conjunction with the Department of Justice, shall perform a study and report its findings to the legislature by June 30, 2009, regarding authorizing interstate Internet Poker.
SB 62 - Sen. Florez - Permits the transfer of funds from the General Fund to the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for eligible recipient tribes should there be insufficient funds in the Special Distribution Fund.
SB 331 -Sen. Romero - Imposes a state mandated local program to address tresspassers on tribal lands
SB 996 Sen. Florez - This bill would require each tribal state gaming compact entered into between the State of California and a federally recognized Indian Tribe to be ratified by the Legislature in Separate Statute.
SB 1201 - Sen. Battin Increases the aggregate limit of gaming devices licenses available for issuance under the 1999 compacts to 122,000 slot machines without tribal state compact renegotiations. Veto Bait.
SB 1328 - Sen. Cedillo - deletes the $250 limitation on bingo game payouts, thereby allows for an award of any denomination. BILL HAS BEEN PULLED
SB - 1570 - Sen. Vincent - Requires the Governor to use best efforts to ensure that satellite wagering on horese racing is one of the forms of gaming offered at any gambling facility authorized under a compact. SB 1626 - Sen. Steinberg -Game of Bingo to be played by machine with electronic cards. Slot machines? BILL HAS BEEN PULLED SB 1679 - Sen. Florez - Lottery Reform Bill: requiresthat not less than 87% of revenues be used for prizes and to benefit education, 13% for lottery expenses. Total revenue to education will be decided by the Commission but not less than 1,200,000,000. Requires 1 million to be committed to the Office of Problem and Pathological gambling. Defines, expands and loosens restrictions of lottery game themes.
SB 1695 - Sen. Florez - Prohibits the Governor from negotiating or concluding a gaming compact with a tribe that does not have land held in trust on which the gaming is to occur and that is not federally recognized.
SCA 20 -Sen. Vincent - Constitutional Amendment authorizes Roulette and Craps on California Indian lands for compact tribes.
Federal Legislation to Watch
H.R. 3490 - Congressman Radanovich
Declares that specificed federal lands are to be held in trust by the US for the benefit of the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuik Indians for non gaming purposes.
H.R. 5608 Congressman Rahall - mandates that adminstration directly consults with tribes on policies that directly affect their lives.
S. 2676 - Senator Vitter - Common Sense Indian Gambling Reform Act of 2008. To make technical corrections to IGRA. Consultation with local government.
http://thomas.loc.gov/
| |
| |
