Wednesday, 08 August 2007 01:42
Ballot Initiatives Announced To Overturn 4 Tribal Gaming Compacts Negotiated By Governor
Proponents of no less than four separate ballot measures dealing with
Indian gaming will begin hitting the streets after Secretary of State Debra
Bowen cleared the way for circulation and signature collection this
week. All four are directed at four gaming compacts recently signed by Governor
Schwarzenegger and each ballot initiative deals with each compact separately.
The four compacts include the Morongo Band of
Mission Indians, Sycuan Band of the
Kumeyaay Nation, Pechanga Band of
Luiseño Mission Indians and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. The
23-year agreements permit Pechanga and Morongo to operate up to 7,500 slot
machines each. Sycuan and Agua Caliente, could have 5,000 slots each. All four tribes
are now limited to 2,000 slots. In return, the tribes agreed to give the state
15 percent of gross winnings on all new machines up to 5,000; 25 percent on
machines above that. The issue driving the ballot measures? The four tribes refusals to accept enhanced collective bargaining terms
which Schwarzenegger secured in many of his earlier compacts. To qualify
a referendum for the ballot, the proponent must submit petition signatures of
433,971 registered voters to county elections officials within 90 days from the
date the bill is enacted. Senate Bill 957 (Torlakson), Chapter 41, Statutes of
2007, was enacted on July 10, 2007. The proponent has until October 8, 2007 to
submit petition signatures.
