Cal. OKs four pacts / urban casino plan stalled

Sept 1

In California, the Senate killed four new tribal gambling agreements Friday, this comes just one day after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger withdrew a controversial proposal to build the state's first urban casino.

The 21-12 vote approved pacts that the Governor signed last week to create or expand gambling operations by the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians near Ukiah, the Buena Vista Band of Me Wuk Indians in Ione, Fort Mojave Indian Tribe located near Needles, and the Ewiiaapaayp band of Kumeyaay Indians of east San Diego County.

The four have agreed to give the state a percentage of their profit which is estimated to be about $45 million a year.

Schwarzenegger issued a statement saying that the compacts provide a fair contribution of gaming revenue to the state and guarantee important protections for patrons, workers, the environment and local communities, while respecting the tribes' sovereignty.

Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Northridge, was one of the few to speak out against the compacts, specifically giving tribes sole rights to run casinos in specific areas of the state.

The U.S. Department of Interior must still approve the compacts, which were ratified late Thursday by the Assembly.

Senate leader John Burton, D-San Francisco, carried the approval legislation a week after objecting to Schwarzenegger's agreement to let the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians operate up to 5,000 slot machines in San Pablo, along a major interstate in the heart of the San Francisco Bay area.

In response, the tribe first cut the number of slot machines in half, then delayed the approval request until the Legislature reconvenes in December. Casino backers plan to spend the interim lobbying lawmakers.