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To: TOPFUEL who wrote (534)	9/12/1999 8:52:00 PM
From: LANCE B	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 564

JAGG-THIS COULD HAVE BEEN THE NEWS WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR; YOU ARE RIGHT,THINGS COULD START START GETTING VERY INTERESTING, WILL TRY TO CALL DOUG AGAIN TOMORROW; indian gambling pacts signed By Patrick Hoge Bee Capitol Bureau (Published Sept. 11, 1999) The doors to potentially fabulous wealth opened for California Indians on Friday as Gov. Gray Davis and nearly 60 tribal leaders concluded two weeks of strained negotiations by signing agreements to legalize and regulate gambling on reservation lands. After more than a decade of legal battles, threatened federal law enforcement actions and the most costly state initiative campaign in history, the state's tribes finally appeared to have won a protected monopoly on Nevada-style gambling, including slot machines and house-banked card games such as blackjack, in the nation's most populous state. "For too long, California's Indian nations have been denied the respect and dignity they deserve. That sad history ends here today," Davis said in a signing ceremony, flanked by the leaders of two of the state's wealthiest gambling tribes and scores of other Indian leaders. The Legislature on Friday ratified the compacts, but the entire deal still hinges on voters approving a constitutional amendment in March that would give Indians the right to gambling not legal anywhere else in the state. Davis and most tribal leaders expect easy passage of the measure because 63 percent of voters last November approved Proposition 5, the Indian-backed initiative that would have allowed an unlimited expansion of current Indian gambling operations. That measure, on which gambling tribes spent at least $67.5 million -- was recently struck down by the state Supreme Court. But despite the deal reached Friday, the outcome remained clouded by the prospect of a competing constitutional measure on the March ballot. The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians of Palm Springs may put its own amendment on the March ballot, which would reinstate Proposition 5. Some legal experts say it would be vulnerable to legal challenge. Tribal Chairman Richard M. Milanovich said his tribe -- whose 200 members were to vote Sunday on whether to sign Davis' agreement -- may turn in more than 1 million signatures by Monday to qualify its measure. Milanovich believes his amendment could give him a stronger bargaining hand, even though under federal law the tribe still would have to negotiate a compact with the governor to legalize its Nevada-style gambling. Milanovich said he disliked the Davis compact's provisions, which he said impinge upon the tribes' sovereign status as nations, and that he resented Davis' approach. "I saw a take-it-or-leave-it attitude," Milanovich said. "I saw a divide-and-conquer attitude." Davis described Friday's compacts -- which would allow less expansion than Proposition 5 but more types of games -- as a compromise that balanced the tribes' needs for money and jobs, the will of the voters, and his own commitment that he would allow only a "modest" expansion of gambling in the state. Such a balance was not reached easily, with tribes holding out until about 12:30 a.m. Friday -- the last day of the legislative session. Davis demanded that the number of slot machines be capped; that the state regulate and tax gambling; and that the state's 41 gambling tribes share revenue with the 66 non-gambling tribes. "We've worked so hard for so long. It's almost like it was a cloudy day and the sky opened up and it was so bright and I didn't expect it to be so bright," said a clearly exhausted Anthony Pico, chairman of the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians in San Diego County. The gambling compacts would: Allow tribes just entering into gambling 350 slot machines each, but allot them $1.1 million a year from a tribal revenue-sharing fund if they do not gamble. Cap the number of slot machines any single tribe can have at 2,000, potentially doubling the number of existing machines to as many as 43,000 statewide. Tax slot machine revenues at casinos with more than 350 machines to support gambling addiction programs, local government infrastructure and state regulation. Extend compacts through 2020, although compacts specifically provide for renegotiating slot machine limits in March 2003. Mandate non-binding consultation with local governments on environmental impacts of casino-related developments. Davis warned gambling tribes that do not sign a compact by Oct. 13 that they will be subject to federal law enforcement action. "I have been in touch with Attorney General (Janet) Reno's office," Davis said in a news conference. "If they don't sign a compact and they are gambling, it is my belief that the U.S. attorneys will move. . . . They have waited long enough." The compacts signed Friday require that by Oct. 13 the tribes also must sign agreements that guarantee workers collective-bargaining rights. Both sides said the deal is virtually complete, with the tribes agreeing to worker rights -- including binding arbitration -- in casinos that have more than 250 employees. Among those signing compacts Friday were representatives of numerous Sacramento-area tribes -- some with casinos and others with plans for casinos -- including the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians in Yolo County, United Auburn Indian Community by Auburn, the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and the Jackson Rancheria in Amador County. Bitterness lingered over Davis' negotiating tactics, but many Indians were elated and eager to start or expand gambling operations throughout the state. Cheryl Schmit, founder of Stand Up for California, a Penryn-based group that has fought Indian gambling, decried the agreements signed Friday because they allow for a "massive expansion" of gambling and do not force tribes to negotiate with local governments over environmental issues. "We are determined to continue raising these issues," she said, "and fighting for the voice of California's communities as we face an onslaught of casino gambling." (Voluntary Disclosure: Position- Long; ST Rating- Hold; LT Rating- Strong Buy) BoardMark MemberMark Ignore Poster Report TOS Violation JAGG Update Last 1/16 Chg. + 1/64 % +8.77% Time 14:55 Detailed \| Real-Time Nasdaq delayed 15 minutes, 20 min. otherwise. Your $0.02 Wanted! Why just lurk? Get in the ring. 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