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Stand Up for California! is a statewide organization with a focus on gambling issues including tribal gaming, card clubs, horse racing, charitable gaming and the state lottery. | |
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FEC complaint alleges link between Pombo, McClintock
5/5/2008, The Hill - Washington, D.C.
Posted: 05/05/08 07:30 PM [ET] A California-based group and other local officials filed a Federal Election Commission (FEC) complaint Monday regarding the alleged ties between an ex-aide to Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Calif.) and state Sen. Tom McClintock (R). McClintock and former Rep. Doug Ose (R-Calif.) are in a bitter primary battle to face off against Democrat Charlie Brown this fall for retiring Rep. John Doolittle's (R-Calif.) seat. At issue is the role of Steve Ding - an ex-McClintock consultant and former chief of staff for Pombo - and The Partnership for America, a 501(c)4 advocacy group headed by Pombo. McClatchy recently reported that Pombo's group is organizing a $660,000 independent campaign in the 4th congressional district. Schmit said in a statement, "Residents of this district should be outraged that Southern California gaming tribes are trying to buy this election in a manner that is neither ethical nor legal [there] is no justification for this type of activity." | |
El Dorado County sheriff says casino payments not enough
5/5/2008, Sacramento Bee
El Dorado County is to receive $500,000 annually for 20 years for law enforcement under a pact with the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians. But the county sheriff said that won't cover the staffing and equipment that he expects will be needed to handle the anticipated increase in calls for service that will come with the opening of Red Hawk Casino.
Appeals court judge strikes blows against Indian rights
5/5/2008, Indian.com
In just under three years on the bench, one of President Bush's controversial judicial nominees has written negative rulings in three high-profile Indian law cases. Janice Rogers Brown sits on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, one of the most important in the nation. Besides hearing a significant number of Indian law cases, the circuit is considered a stepping-stone for the U.S. Supreme Court. Brown, a former California judge, is sometimes mentioned as a possible high court nominee. Going by her rulings, she'd likely fit in with the more conservative justices on the Supreme Court, which has slowly eroded tribal rights over the last two decades.
Neighbors Hear a Sour Note
5/5/2008, The Press Enterprise
I sang the virtues of The Club at Soboba in San Jacinto. I pointed out that it is a smart marketing tool for Soboba tribal leaders in their campaign to annex land into their reservation so they can build a new hotel and casino near the golf course they purchased in 2004. I wasn't surprised that nearby residents let me know they believe a new casino would ruin the tranquillity of their very nice neighborhoods. They thought I was out of tune. Mike and Dee Wickham, who live just a few hundred feet from the lavish new clubhouse, which is open to the public, worry that a new casino on land annexed into the reservation would draw crime to their neighborhood.
Tin ear Tribes risking integrity of casino games
5/5/2008, San Diego Union Tribune
How is it that California's rich gambling tribes can see the value of getting involved in good community causes on the one hand and be so tone deaf on other matters - whether they are simple public relations or fundamental questions of integrity? As Union-Tribune reporter James P. Sweeney has reported, most of the state's often fractious gambling tribes have united around opposition to the California Gambling Control Commission's effort to establish minimum standards for the conduct of games, cash handling, accounting and other aspects of internal security.
Murder victim's family sues Thunder Valley Casino
5/5/2008, Auburn Journal
The family of murder victim Christie Wilson has filed suit against the Thunder Valley Casino,where the 27-year-old was last seen alive. The wrongful death civil suit filed Oct. 3, 2007 in Placer County Superior Court asks for more than $25,000 in damages and alleges the casino failed to protect Wilson from a criminal act. "The defendants do not maintain adequate security personnel for the protection of patrons" the complaint reads in part. Wilson, 27, was last seen in the company of Mario Garcia, 56, of Auburn, in October of 2005 leaving the Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln. Garcia was convicted in January 2007 of first-degree murder for killing Wilson and hiding her body.
Tahoe casinos' owner in trouble
5/6/2008, Sacramento Bee
Two of Lake Tahoe's four big casinos are headed into bankruptcy protection, putting further pressure on a resort area struggling against Northern California's Indian casinos. Tropicana Entertainment LLC, the debt-laden owner of the Horizon and MontBleu casinos at Lake Tahoe, said Monday it filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the bankruptcy code. The company said it would continue operating its nine casinos, which include the famous Tropicana in Las Vegas.
Gambling studies deal in addiction's wild card
5/6/2008, The Birmingham News -AL
Growing scientific evidence shows that gambling hijacks the brain by triggering a chemical reaction almost like cocaine does, say authorities at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The research is showing just how addictive games of chance can be, and further study of pathological gamblers could hit a jackpot of information leading to better treatment for all addictions. This new understanding of gambling addiction is being led by Don Ross, a UAB professor of philosophy and economics. He is a pioneer in neuroeconomics, a field that looks inside the brain with high-tech imaging to see how people make decisions | |
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Upcoming Hearings
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
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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/
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