A Bad Gamble for Everyone
Der Gubinator Ahnold has won half of the gambling proposition battle as the backers of Prop 68 will spend no more money on advertising for their proposition.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the backers of Proposition 70, the second of the two really bad idea gambling propositions on the typically overcrowded California ballot. Indian tribes are advancing this idea to lock the State of California into a 99 year long vise grip that prevents the state from trying to negotiate a better deal in order to get a "fair share" of the huge revenues being realized from casino gambling on Indian Lands.
Governor Schwarzenegger has been working hard to get more tax revenue from Indian tribes since he first won the recall election that changed him from actor to politician. It isn't a bad notion either, even though technically the Indian tribes are sovereign nations by Federal Law and not subject to state regulation or taxation. But with the huge amount of revenue being realized by the California Indian tribes from casino gambling, it is in their own best interest to find a way to pay some amount of those revenues to the state in order to remain popular with the citizenry upon whom they depend when it comes time to negotiate pacts with state government.
How big are those revenues? An Associated Press review of court documents shows that at least 1,160 people are fighting to retain membership in some 14 different tribes. The Pechanga Indian tribe recently ousted 11 members from their roles and those 11 have pursued legal action, claiming the tribal council violated tribal law in ousting them. Their claim also points out that each of the 11 stand to lose $120,000 per year that is their individual share of casino revenues.
$120,000 per person?? Holy Eagle Feather Batman, this puts a whole new spin on the concept of impoverished Indian tribes and poor Indians living lives of poverty on the reservation, doesn't it. If those casinos on the Indian lands are generating so much profit that every member of the tribe is earning more than $100,000 as their share, then they are doing quite well indeed and it is no wonder that a budgetarily challenged Governor is looking at Indian Gaming to help balance California's books.
Prop 68 was and is a bad idea and even its backers and supporters now realize it. Poker dealers at California Card Rooms in those cities that permit poker are probably happy about this, as maybe now they can stop getting into trouble for not wearing the "Vote Yes on 68" buttons.
Prop 70 was and is still a bad idea and I urge everyone to go out and vote No.
I received no funds for this blog, although if der Gubinator wants to send me a check, he can email me for my snail-mail address.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the backers of Proposition 70, the second of the two really bad idea gambling propositions on the typically overcrowded California ballot. Indian tribes are advancing this idea to lock the State of California into a 99 year long vise grip that prevents the state from trying to negotiate a better deal in order to get a "fair share" of the huge revenues being realized from casino gambling on Indian Lands.
Governor Schwarzenegger has been working hard to get more tax revenue from Indian tribes since he first won the recall election that changed him from actor to politician. It isn't a bad notion either, even though technically the Indian tribes are sovereign nations by Federal Law and not subject to state regulation or taxation. But with the huge amount of revenue being realized by the California Indian tribes from casino gambling, it is in their own best interest to find a way to pay some amount of those revenues to the state in order to remain popular with the citizenry upon whom they depend when it comes time to negotiate pacts with state government.
How big are those revenues? An Associated Press review of court documents shows that at least 1,160 people are fighting to retain membership in some 14 different tribes. The Pechanga Indian tribe recently ousted 11 members from their roles and those 11 have pursued legal action, claiming the tribal council violated tribal law in ousting them. Their claim also points out that each of the 11 stand to lose $120,000 per year that is their individual share of casino revenues.
$120,000 per person?? Holy Eagle Feather Batman, this puts a whole new spin on the concept of impoverished Indian tribes and poor Indians living lives of poverty on the reservation, doesn't it. If those casinos on the Indian lands are generating so much profit that every member of the tribe is earning more than $100,000 as their share, then they are doing quite well indeed and it is no wonder that a budgetarily challenged Governor is looking at Indian Gaming to help balance California's books.
Prop 68 was and is a bad idea and even its backers and supporters now realize it. Poker dealers at California Card Rooms in those cities that permit poker are probably happy about this, as maybe now they can stop getting into trouble for not wearing the "Vote Yes on 68" buttons.
Prop 70 was and is still a bad idea and I urge everyone to go out and vote No.
I received no funds for this blog, although if der Gubinator wants to send me a check, he can email me for my snail-mail address.
posted by me at 1:17 PM
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