Casino News

Tribal casino owners make voices heard

2006-11-01 16:22:23

A group of tribes from Southern California are influencing the state's elections by providing financial backing for an independent committee, it has emerged.

Having been disappointed with the recent defeat of legislation regarding the expansion of six casinos in the area, the tribes have now put more than $9 million into an independent campaign committee that supports casino-friendly candidates.

Observers see the move as a rebuff to Democratic candidates, whose support for labor leaders' views that the proposed casino expansion did not provide adequate provision for casino workers led to the defeat of the bill.

The Sacramento Bee reports that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger pledged not to accept tribal contributions during the 2003 recall election, saying that their casinos paid no taxes and contributed nothing to the state.

But the governor later reneged on the promise, negotiating accords with the group in return for improved state revenues. The tribes are now supporting pro-casino Republican candidates, but denied partisan politics was a factor.

"Right now we're focusing on supporting strong leaders - Democrats and Republicans - who will move the state forward," a representative for the Team 2006 tribal group told the newspaper.


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