California Propositions 94–97: Indian Gaming Compacts – NO

Nice breakdown and takedown by Pete.
Please remember that the $75 million a year that the tribes are paying into the special fund that mitigates the problems from the casino will GO AWAY with these compacts. So local governments will LOSE out immediately.
Do we really believe that the governor will give that money right back tot he cities? He's already borrowed against that fund, so the cities aren't even getting what they should be getting NOW.

At http://originalpechanga.blogspot.com we are discussing reasons why Pechanga certainly does not deserve to be rewarded with a sweetheart deal.

VOTE NO on 94-97 and tell your friends.

So, if the tribes are saying that $9 billion will be generated, $1.5 Billion is money we are already GETTING, it's not new money.

You are correct in your thinking. Maybe a little over the top on churches selling Heroin but I get your point. Unfortunately California citizens love the idea of having someone else make up the deficit and pay for their habits. Even if it is a tiny portion of it. Bad deals will continue to be made and the Indians will be the wealthiest people in the country.

This whole state has been ADDICTED to spending money it doesn't have for far too long. Now the addict is looking for a new fix. The Indian Casino's.

Californians have become lazy and foolish. This state needs to see its businesses leaving the state again and face real bankruptcy for them to wake up and figure out there is no free lunches. It takes people pulling the wagon, not riding on it!

It seems to be the way things are done on reservations these days. The Pechanga tribe is not the only one who is having major problems with their tribal leadership. It is my understanding that many tribal members of the Chumash tribe are subjected to their leaders irresponsible whims and the mob-like clan of the leaders family members. It is sad for the tribal members and now ex-tribal members that are victims of this type of corrupt government. What is it really teaching our youth as they watch California continue to support gambling and more of it? I mean really, the expansion opponents recently picked up the support of the deep-pocketed California Federation of Teachers! Is this the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard?
Spread the word and the concern to all the people you know. This is the biggest battle California is up against - our nation is up against...

Why do these few tribes need to have the biggest gambling casinos in the world?

They already have very succesful operations even if the expansions don't pass.

Also, why are only four of the 108 tribes in the state getting the Lion's share?

Wasn't Gray Davis recalled for fiscal mismanagement and isn't that why Swartzenegger is governor in the first place?

It doesn't sound like the current governor is any better at managing the budget than his predecessor and he shouldn't be trying to rely on tribal money anyway.

As an informed California voter I was pleased to see Mr. Stahl refer to the lottery and talk about the tax rate of government gaming. What was discouraging was his lack of knowledge about tribal governments and the fact that tribal government gaming is taxed at a higher rate than the lottery. 100% of tribal gaming revenues, as mandated by federal law, must be spent on government operations and to provide for the general welfare of tribal members - that is a tax rate of 100%, minus the portion the tribes have willfully agreed to pay to the State. (It is worth noting that Federal law prohibits the taxation of tribal gaming). Tribes must pay for the cost of infrastructure such as roads, sewer and water, educational assistance, health insurance, and elder care for their constituents. The same expenses facing California today. Why is it that Mr. Stahl seems to understand the challenges facing the State of California but refuses to see that tribal government face the same challenges?

I would hope that before Mr. Stahl continues with his flawed logic, he will read the Constitution of this great Nation.

Informed voter is correct except that he forgot to mention that the deal will bring $50 billion in profits, and the total population of the 4 tribes in question is 3,200 people. There's no justification for that kind of a deal, and I'm voting against them.

I don't buy it Informed California Voter. I know members of the Pechanga Indian tribe that are receiving checks every month in excess of $20,000 every month for doing nothing but being Pechanga Indians. Their children are receiving in excess of $5,000 per month. More if they are full bloods. The Pechanga Indians have cut-off any support to Pechanga Indians that are 1/8th or less Pechanga. They want it all for themselves. It's one big Mafia in the making. If that's a 100% tax I'm a Pechanga Indian.

You should see the cars and homes and other luxury items that this 100% tax buys.

Indian gambling is the biggest and most dangerous scam in California's history. Why?

California has tribal leaders that are not indian, illegal unregulated, untaxed casinos on non reservation land, and tribal members that are not indian, taking advantage of Calif taxpayers, voters, patrons, employees and neighborhoods thanks to our Federal, state, and local politicians.

The phony tribal leaders ( who have disenrolled the real indians) own our legislatures, governor, news media, law enforcement. They pay no taxes to support the jails, police, fire depts., social services, courts, and roads they overload with casino induced crime, drugs cartels, money laundering rings, prostitution rings, bankruptcy, child and spousal abuse, foreclosures and divorces.

Profits of an indian casino are 4 to 5 times that of a Las Vegas casino. Why? Because the slots are not regulated indian slots routinely take 4 to 5 times more out of each dollar than Vegas slots.

At least Al Quaeda and illegal immigrants do not control policy in our California and USA government. Tribalism has trumped democracy in California and many other states. Our Governor is promoting tribalism while we are losing thousands of brave soldiers lives and spending trillions to promote democracy over tribalism in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Worknbee

I have read many web-pages against these propositions. I have found nothing which persuades me to vote No.

We have stripped the Native American's of many things (Land, culture, language)... They provide California with much needed income and in return they make some money... what's wrong with that?

Or we can vote NO on the proposition and focus on stop sending our tax money on illegal immigrants. We would save BILLIONS and not need the Casino funds.

“Our elected representatives in the Legislature need to send the governor and the tribes back to the bargaining table to come up with a deal that truly – and verifiably – ensures that the state’s treasury, workers and natural resources are not short-changed in this blitz to expand casino gambling.”
San Francisco Chronicle Editorial
April 9, 2007

I'm voting NO on Prop 94-97!

While sympathetic to Native American's economic woes and happy that at least some money has come their way at last there is something really unseemly about having them run what are essentially modern-day gambling halls. As long it was small and restricted to out-of-the way reservations it didn't seem such a bad thing but it is a terrible thing when the State of California is depending on revenue from organized gambling for its budget. And, obviously, as pointed out here, power corrupts and this has become true of tribal governments, for they can kick people out and increase the take of the remaining members.

The central problem is the 2/3rd's vote--taxes cannot be set to meet public needs because 1 person can block 2. That idiot Walters cites a figure saying that more Californians want to cut expenditures rather than increase taxes but that is only because expenditures aren't specified (remember how Schwartzenegger was going to balance the budget by cutting out "waste"? This was 5 years ago!). Once expenditures are specified the will to cut goes way down.

I have a modest proposal. Any cuts in health care will mean additional deaths. The legislature should agree to cut health care spending on the provision that those who will die because of it are permitted to camp out in front of the houses of legislators who supported the cuts while they are dying. Since government has to set "priorities", these legislators should have no problem living with the results of such setting (which means watching people die in front of them--these legislators children can talk to them each afternoon when they come home from school--actually, let's have a state lottery on when they will die--we can balance the budget from the money made from that!).

Informed California Voters is 100% correct with his facts, and it's refreshing to see a poster who has a grasp of the issue, as opposed to so many posters who just go on emotion and/or ignorance of tribal government, tribal gaming and the U.S. Constitution. Is the tribal government system perfect? No. What government is? But tribal government and Indian casinos are simply not these horribly corrupt operations that some one-sided posters would tell you. Let's just keep it in perspective. There have been many benefits from tribal government gaming...for tribal members, local communities and state taxpayers.

Informed California Voters is 100% correct with his facts, and it's refreshing to see a poster who has a grasp of the issue, as opposed to so many posters who just go on emotion and/or ignorance of tribal government, tribal gaming and the U.S. Constitution. Is the tribal government system perfect? No. What government is? But tribal government and Indian casinos are simply not these horribly corrupt operations that some one-sided posters would tell you. Let's just keep it in perspective. There have been many benefits from tribal government gaming...for tribal members, local communities and state taxpayers.

Informed California Voter is 100% correct with his facts, and it's refreshing to see a poster who has a grasp of the issue, as opposed to so many posters who just go on emotion and/or ignorance of tribal government, tribal gaming and the U.S. Constitution. Is the tribal government system perfect? No. What government is? But tribal government and Indian casinos are simply not these horribly corrupt operations that some one-sided posters would tell you. Let's just keep it in perspective. There have been many benefits from tribal government gaming...for tribal members, local communities and state taxpayers.

It comes down to simplicity, WE INDIAN PEOPLE THIS STATE NOTHING ~~~~~~
YOU NOTHING ~~~ Did our elders, anchestors have a say
in the voting process to up grade our lives and the
health care of our people, the answer is NO.
Arnold, your administration, the greed of politics
brought on the current State Crisis, not our Indian People.

There is a very old yet simple saying, What we sow, we reap, it is time for our people to be independent
of the White government that held us in poverity for years, you now acknowledge the First Nation People,
for one reason, Money... It might as well be the Gold Rush Again.. WE OWE YOU, NOR THIS STATE THAT PAID US OUT IN 1972 $672.14 FOR OVER 80 MILLION ACRES OF LANDS.. With your high levels of education, You fix the problem..
My Name is Susie Eaph Johnson Indian Name MorningStar
I am West Point Calif Miwuk, and I say to my fellow brothers and sisters of first Nation, do not let this government take control yet again...
Prayer, advice from our elders, and then we STAND
for what is rightfully ours..
GREED IS IN THESE HEARTS..
I send my prayers to all the tribes, it is time for
us to stand together, unite, and AS THEY SAY.......
JUST SAY NO !!!!!!!!!! Bootleggers is what they
represent.
Blessings to all our relations

Wow! I love the internet! I was surprised the "Official Voter Information Guide" I received in the mail had nothing on Props 94-97 so I Googled and found you right away - what a voice of intelligence and reason - I've forwarded you on to many others, I hope they will find your analysis informative.

Your article makes a good point, lets legalize marijuana.

Thank you Morris1 for pointing out that Pechanga members make a lot of money. They recently received another raise and are now making some $32,000 monthly. You are totally uninformed about their payout scheme however. They don't pay based upon blood quantum, in fact there are many members who are either 100% white (like tribal council member Butch Murphy and his family) or who were adopted into the tribe (like former tribal chariperson Jenny Miranda).

It should also be noted that they have disenrolled over 200 legitimate members none of whom have any way in which to appeal the tribes decision. The 100% tax comment is completely fraudulant. The tribe spends about 10-15% of its revenue on "governmental expenses" like roads, the fire station etc. The rest of course goes to the members who should really be seen as shareholders in a corporation.

I believe that the BIA has to approve these revenue allocation agreements, but to date Pechanga's has never been approved. I wonder why?

It is said that the MOST expensive drain on medical insurance is rehabilitation expenses (drugs, alcohol, gambling...). So while we're facing a health care crisis, adding more addictions to the menu doesn't seem at all wise. Robbing Peter to pay Paul? Doesn't sound like anybody comes out a winner in this gamble!

I have to say I agree with MorningStar, Leave the Indian people along, they have been through enough from greedy white people. Casinos are the lifeline for these reservations. I have seen the differences casinos have made to the Cherokee nation in Western NC. It has been wonderful to watch the people live better lives. They are building a better society for their people. If I were a CA resident, I would vote for anything that will better the lives of the Indian nations.

It is time to fight back for our state. Too bad that we do not put as much emphasis on bringing jobs/business to CA, but NO.....our leaders and uninformed citizens would rather place our states future and the future of our youth in the hands of greedy "politibozos" who would rather save an owl than save a human being, they would rather place it all on casino power than invest into creating "smart" energy programs and business to power our state into the future. They would rather allow small special interest groups and "hollyweird" elites dictate our goals while sacrificing our children's future upon the altar of GREED and CORRUPTION!! How much casino money goes into the states coffers? Well, how much gets paid back to the different rancherias in CA? We should open up gambling for whoever wants to pay the state and not limit it to a few greedy anti-californian elites, let Vegas & Reno compete why not? Since we have opened up the "can of worms" of gambling (Lotto, Gaming) in CA and ignorned real steps to real solutions why stop here.....maybe the casinos can continue their FALSE contributions to our society by sponsoring BINGO at your local school? Your 4th grader will appreciate the assistance to his education they will learn to spell B-I-N-G-O
It is NEVER too late to fight back for CA VOTE NO on 94,95,96,97

Why do the Indians have to pay? What about the rich actors? How much do they get taxed? Hmmm?

I love PRO-UNION censorship!! Progressives certainly give new meaning to the term "open-minded".

ok first off this is a proposition. this means that the measure is not necessarily politicians since any californian can get something as a proposition if they get enough signatures on it durrrr.... so don't tell me we are being effed over by these politicians, almost all bills on the ballot are by special interest groups who are trying to circumvent the political process.

also, i read the text of these propositions 94, 95, 96, and 97 and they are just provisions to get past the blockade of CEQA (an agency that deems if projects are good for the overall "feel" of california). it seems like the actual negotiation of terms is outside of the bills scope so we aren't necessarily voting on that.

and, i came to this website hoping to be persuaded to vote no on these propositions but most of these arguments use the slippery slope saying well if we let this happen then the world will slip into hell with the salvation army leading the pot smoking way. these arguments are trying to argue with fear. don't listen to it. be critical yourself!

i'm not gonna say which way you should vote, just 1. know what you are voting about really
and
2. don't agree with stupid arguments just cuz they support what you already think cuz a stupid argument is still stupid even if the result is right. i could say i hate hitler because he had black hair. it may be right to dislike hitler but it's retarded to do so cuz of his hair.

I am a full time listener to ____. well- lets say it is the only radio station I listen to regularly.

I am more than a little disappointed in not only the direction of the GOP in our state, but now ____'s.

alignment with them as they keep lowering the moral bar in regard to where they will stoop to pick up

tax dollars. Gambling is not only passes on a legacy of greed but raises money on the back of people

that cannot afford the wasting of their dollars. It creates addictions that ruin families and causes endless

pain and suffering. Also do we ask ourselves the harder questions like, did the indian people put our state

in this financial hole? Is it on the backs of their people that we should put this weight? Do we not undermine

their well being by using them in this way? Is this not usury? We should not only not support it - we should run

from it and be its bitter enemy.

I would hope that ____ would reconsider this GOP sponsorship and trust God for different avenues

of income. There is an inherent distrust that ripples out from such a promotion for tax dollars. As a

member of this community I have used your sponsors from time to time. This makes a strong indication

that ____ is not relying on God for their funding as it is obvious that God would not support such

tainted legislation. Please then reconsider, both your stand with a morally bankrupt party, and it's stand for

very filthy funding when it comes to propositions 94-97. If we cannot get money any other way, perhaps

the Lord doesn't even want our state to have it. Frankly I see in the constitution many statements that indicate

this is not constitutional. I voted against the Lottery that funds a morally bankrupt school system and now this.

Slowly we are installing a system of corruption that will (has) put us in unrecoverable moral tilt. Please reconsider,

I love your programming and want nothing more than to support it.

Thanks for your ear.

Gary Kimes

Over 500 treaties broken to the original people of this continent. Native people who had their history, buffalo,life and culture crushed in only a hundred. this for which they will never be compensated. Sadly these people are wards of the State and likely left to die of diabetes on their reservations, This is a piss poor way to try to fund this States inefficient double standard policies and their socialist programs for illegals and their kids!

Over 500 treaties broken to the original people of this continent. Native people who had their history, buffalo,life and culture crushed in only a hundred. this for which they will never be compensated. Sadly these people are wards of the State and likely left to die of diabetes on their reservations, This is a piss poor way to try to fund this States inefficient double standard policies and their socialist programs for illegals and their kids!

I get tired of hearing about the poor, poor Indians and how the white man took everything away. Sure, they were overrun a couple hundred years ago, but such is life - get over it, quit whinning about yesterday. What's stopping them today from getting an education and jobs like the rest of us? Nothing. I'll accept allowing gambling on their reservations, but they need to pay their fair share and these props 'aint it. Why else would these tribes be pushing so hard to pass these initiatives if it wasn't in THEIR best interest it? Think about it...

I am not impressed by the suggestion that the native peoples' right to operate casinos is somehow compensation for past injustices and that the resdients should be allowed to do as they please. We aren't talking about hunting rights here. This is about money and gambling.

It is a fact that a majority if not all of the money generated in these casinos come from California residents. California has a significant interest in the impact that these operations have on their residents. And as this column and several posters have articulated, the impacts are many and not all beneficial.

My mind is not made up on this issue yet but emotional appeal to past injustices reminds me that two wrongs don't make a right.

I agree with much of what Peter says. This is not a fair deal, there is no need to create a society of billionaires on the backs of those who have problems with gambling. I am happy the 4 tribes have found economic prosperity -- but these propositions are a greedy grab by the 4 tribes. How much is enough!?

Issues that Peter did not raise are: (i) payments into the Special Distribution Fund by the tribes cease (a deduct from the purported new revenues to the the state), (ii) any shortfall in the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund (used to make payment to other tribes) will be an obligation of California, and (iii) if we really want to create tax revenue to the state from gambling - do it smart - make it legal for non-tribe operators. The impact to the state's coffers would be much greater and favorably impact many more people.

I'm voting NO because the deal on the table is not fair (on many levels) to the people of California.

These are silly and unnecessary propositions:
1.) there's no need/no good to expand gambling in CA.
2.) Don't let the big numbers sway you, it's a drop in the 40 gallon barrel...
2a.) if you make 100K a year and are $20 short of "balancing" YOUR budget, there are better ways to do it. This is an equivalent to the % of what CA MIGHT get a year.
3.) the income level is not guaranteed
4.) we don't need to give more $ to the Govnmt., no matter whose it is.
5.) nearly a trillion $ budget for CA is out of line to begin with.
6.) it's no wonder the CA chamber of commerce is for it, they don't want businesses to be taxed.
7.) the republicans just want more $$$$ and want it to come not our of their rich and deep pockets.

HEY ARNIE, ya girly-man, JUST BALANCE THE FRIGGIN BUDGET.

One of the reasons the state is in fiscal trouble is because the Governor abolished the "car tax" (license fee), which will go into effect this year, worth $9 Billion in revenue--65% of the $14.5 billion shortfall the state is anticipating over the next 18 months. While not perfect, this tax is sliding scale depending on the value of the vehicle (see SF Bay Guardian editorial), and should be reinstated, at least until the budget is in the black again.

I am not against Indian Gaming--I voted for it because it seemed what most indigenous tribes wanted at the time. At ACOMA in NM gaming revenue has made a world of difference to the tribe--the health, education, and empowerment of the people, the restoration of pride and dignity.

I don't think CA necessarily should profit from any tribal enterprises--afterall, the tribes are sovereign nations. What is the state doing for the tribes in return?

I would like to hear more about how the tribes feel about these propositions before making a decision.

As far as Peter's analysis goes, he seems like a torn person: He's against the propositions because the state does not get a big enough piece of the pie, AND because the state should not be relying so heavily on sin taxes... which is it?!

Either respect Native sovereignty or legalize gambling statewide in California.

Any good business will guarantee their product or service. What does the average patron get for their gambling dollar? That's right. Less than nothing! They lose money. There might be a clue there as to the wisdom in gambling in general.

What if you have the music, dinner, hotel stay, swimming pool, and shopping etc. without the gambling? Does our society really lack for ways to entertain ourselves? Should any business have a monopoly? If gambling is such a wonderful form of entertainment why don't we legalize it nationwide?

I believe Indians and people from every culture have a great ability to succeed in a variety of ways. Why limit a culture to one method of financial success when it is attached to something that is so destructive to so many customers (gambling addicts - 60% of slot machine revenues come from gambling addicts, drunk drivers etc.)?

Finally, I would love the day when Indians are finally melted in as one in this great country and that we can stop playing this pretend game that we are helping them by hurting others or putting them on permanent welfare (gambling addicts and those Indians born with talents that will go unrecognized because of the windfall of easy money).

Are most successful California Indians destined to be owners of gambling casinos? What does this say about them and our culture? What does it say about their confidence and expectation level as a people.

Modern gambling was started by Italian,Irish and other Caucasian mobsters, not Indians. Is there a clue there?

I love the great outdoors and the pristine land that Native Americans once cherished. Why trade that for more blinking lights and Vegas style wasteland? Remember, if you are a Native American Indian depending on casino profits, you are also someone with a hand out to all of those non-Indian patrons you will forever be hungry for in order to maintain a continuous flow of money. Is that freedom or dependency?

So, these propositions are interesting. I don't agree with gambling, I think it is an addiction that needs to be controlled.

From a religious perspective, it seems imperative to limit or abolish gambling altogether. But also from a religious perspective, it seems that we must allow people to exercise their agency, choose for themselves how they will live and how they will control themselves. In that light, I think we're making part of this a moral/religious question about sin and whether or not we should:
1) let our neighbors engage in sin, and
2) whether or not we should allow native people, whose nations are domestic dependents and sovereign, provide opportunities for our neighbors to sin.

These are two really interesting questions that as a state and as individuals we will constantly have to answer for each supposed "sin" in part because we don't seem to be able to make one decision and let it stand, and in part because I think we intuitively know that some sins have to be regulated and controlled by more than just individual agency.

So, what do I mean by this? I think we have to decide if the sin of gambling is as serious as say the sin of murder. If it is, then we need to create legislation that will abolish the rights of anyone to engage in it simply because their moral compass points them in that direction.

If it isn't as serious as this, then where does it fall? Is it like drunkenness? Certainly to many, drunkenness is a sin that one can engage in legally as long as one does not then act irresponsibly in that state of sin, ie, driving into little children or property and destroying them while drunk. Then there are other sins, like smoking marijuana or heroine, that are also as potentially damaging as drunkenness, but against which we have developed laws such that one cannot indulge in the sin even if no immediately negative consequences flow from it.

So, what do we think about gambling? What kind of sin is it, or is it really not a sin at all?

In addition to these questions about the sinfulness of gambling, the propositions on the ballot right now are not meant to end Indian gaming. They simply are not. If we are in agreement that the sin of gambling should be scourged, then we are barking up the wrong tree if we think that voting No on these propositions will have any effect in ending gaming. If we think our No votes will somehow lead to the start of ending gaming, then we should probably examine that as well because from what I can tell, the tribes will simply move on with gaming and a different compact will be initiated.

Personally, as a person of American Indian heritage, I think that tribes should be honorable and do what is in the best interest of their tribal members.

And to those who think that we need to "get over" genocide, culturocide and the loss of millions of acres of land that were supposed to be our's by treaty, let me come and take your home, mortally wound you in front of your family, and all the while rape and torture your daughters and emasculate your sons. Then let me tell your grandchildren that you never existed or that you were incapable of being human and decent so that I had to do what I did. In a few generations from your grandchildren, we'll see what type of family you have and we'll see how they feel about what happened to you and what would have been their inheritance if I hadn't been so brutal.

What happened to native people then is happening now in economic ways. Don't let Indian gaming fool you to think that our nations are doing OK and that just because it has been in your mind 100's of years since Genocide that we should be able to just get over it. In fact, it hasn't been that long (1970's) since genocidal policies played out in the lives native women across the US who were being permanently sterilized by the Public Health Service in the best interest of the tribes. Also, many of the repressive religious, linguistic and cultural State and Federal policies that most non-Indians either don't know about or thought only existed before the 1900s were only repealed within the last 30-40 years. It takes more than 30 years to build a nation, and it takes even longer to heal a nation that has been damaged as much as our First Nations.

Learn your history from Indian and non-Indian scholars who are interested in honesty and objectivity before you tell people what to get over. Read some sociology and learn about intergenerational and historic grief, about the legacy of illiteracy and under-education in communities. Also, understand why laws and constitutional amendments are important to ensure equality and protection for both US citizens and dual tribal/US citizens, including the right to have gaming on our reservations and to make agreements with the State. We are domestic dependent sovereign nations, not bound by State laws, but by Federal laws only. That has ramifications in many positive and negative ways and it certainly means that at our discretion we can engage in contract making with the State, but that we are bound to adhere to Federal laws.

Also, understand that for native people, we don't have an "Old Country" to go back to, this is our old country. If we don't preserve our sovereignty and our cultures, there will be no reservoir for our children to draw from in the future. A comment was made about Indians needing to be part of the melting pot. I do not want anyone else to melt away the beauty that their cultural heritage brings. I Am American, but that doesn't mean that I have to stop being Indian too.

If the money earned from gaming helps some tribes be Indian and be sovereign, then I am not going to tell them that my moral standards trump theirs. And I am certainly not going to encourage them to fold to the belief that the opinion of Californians who let Indian kids go hungry and uneducated without health care or opportunities for generations matter more than theirs. The majority of tribes support these measures, so do I.

I don't see why the citizens of CA are voting on this issue AGAIN. didn't we just block it in the last special election? How much tax payer money is going to waste over these idiotic propositions...which are brought forth by the Tribal Gaming community? Clearly they will be benefitting hugely. Otherwise WHY would they endorse such a prop? The state of CA should NOT be run with money begotten from the gambling habits of it's citizens. It's completely irresponsible on so many levels. If it was a matter of making ALL Native American's lives better, and all of them were guaranteed a cut, then I might be more inclined to say yes...but there is absolutely NO way the CA government will have any way to monitor who amongst the tribes gets what...so I say NO!

you're a retard with no straight facts... AND THEY WON!! SO WHAT THE HELL DO YOU KNOW??

you're a R E T A R D with no straight facts... AND THEY WON!! SO WHAT THE HELL DO YOU KNOW??

After reading 'some' of what was here, I can't help but wonder, what you all thought of reservations & Native People PRIOR to the CASINO's.
Did you care that they lived below the national poverty level? Did you care that they were TAKEN off their lands and placed on lands that held no monetary value, was barely fit to plant and have animals graze on...
Now that they have become SELF RELIANT, SELF SUFFICIENT and have a SAY SO in POLITICS, everyone wants to reign them in again....
They have found a way from out under the white man's hand and ppl are not only envious, but still as hateful as they were in the beginning.
IF YOU HAD THE MONEY, would you not buy a new home, a new car, send your children to better schools...THINK ABOUT IT PPL...WHAT IS THE REAL MESSAGE YOU ARE PUTTING OUT THERE?

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