More On Referendums

Governor Backs Agua Caliente’s Bid To Block Vote

Gov. Schwarzenegger has gotten involved in the suit by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians to block a public vote on its renegotiated gambling compacts with the state.

Last weeks filing in Sacramento County Superior Court by Schwarzenegger's top attorney urges a quick resolution of the suit by the Agua Caliente to avoid the loss of expected compact revenue and the costs of printing additional ballots.

"This, of course, is in addition to the millions of dollars that will be spent by interested parties on a campaign that is likely to be quite divisive and will undoubtedly distract voters from other important issues on the ballot," Andrea Hoch, Schwarzenegger's legal secretary, writes in Monday's brief.

A hearing on the case is scheduled for this week.

Full Article:
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_friend21.4ccc130.html

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Odds Are Even If Amended Compacts Go To Vote

Both public and private polls show the approval ratings of the referendums launched by opponents on the Feb. 5 ballot hovering around 50 percent, which is ordinarily not a good omen early in campaigns. Sources on both sides say the sticking point with voters appears to be language in the ballot summary that implies that under the deals, the tribes don't have to meet some state environmental standards.

But there's good news for the four tribes as well. Sources say two casino tribes, which oppose the proposed expansions for competitive reasons and helped qualify the referendums, aren't likely to put a lot more money into them between now and February. If so, other opponents – mainly labor unions and horse racing interests – will have to dig deeper to combat the well-heeled tribes once the campaigns heat up.

Full Article:
http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/520054.html
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This is a commentary by Phil Strickland who is a staff writer for the North County Times.

Link: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/11/20/opinion/strickland/18_24_5611_19_07.txt
Use of referenda is wrong

By: PHIL STRICKLAND - Staff Writer

It was predictable months ago that the Democratic Party in California would find itself stuck in between two of its major constituencies.

And it has.

So what's the so-called working man's party to do when faced with the choice of supporting referenda that would abolish agreements between some of its major financial supporters and the state so as to aid a union in its effort to organize workers at those same contributory enterprises?

Nothing, of course. And that's precisely what has happened.

Party members, who like to hold themselves forth as the saviors of blue-collar America, were lobbied at its meeting over the weekend by members of UNITE-HERE, a union composed of hospitality industry workers, the California Labor Federation and members of four California tribes, including the Pechanga, that have signed compacts with the state allowing them to increase significantly the number of slot machines they can operate.

The unions wanted the party to work for the four anti-compact referenda that would appear on the February ballot if they receive enough signatures. Already, the referendum aimed at the Pechanga has passed the threshold and will go to a vote. The others are expected to do likewise very soon.

The union says the compacts are unfair because they make it more difficult to organize workers at the casinos while allowing the tribes windfall winnings.

The tribes contend compacts preserve the union's right to organize and do a great financial service to the state and its taxpayers.

Union leaders and their parrots don't find it necessary to bring up the estimated $9 billion the tribes will pay into the state coffer over the next 20 years for the right to expand their gaming businesses.

Small detail. There are two other small details: The state needs the money and the tribal contributions will help hold the line on taxes.

Oh, yeah, there's one other little thing. According to figures just released by the Legislative Analyst's Office, the delay in implementing the agreements, caused in large part by UNITE-HERE's action, already has cost the state $200 million of the anticipated revenue.

Thanks so much.

In the end, the party's executive board decided Sunday morning to neither work for nor against the measures, thus remaining aloof from it all and letting its continually feuding children go at it.

It appears that as far as the Democratic Party is concerned, money talks and power to the people walks.

As easy as it is to criticize the Pechanga leadership for its actions regarding some members of the tribe, it's even easier still to disapprove of the union's use of referenda to try to force a "sovereign" people to bend to its will.

It would be one thing if the union were trying to force state action quite apart from the tribes, but to force the tribes to accommodate its wishes is quite another.

As your favor is curried between now and the casting of your yeas and nays for the referenda, remember that sovereignty is like virginity: Either you are or you aren't.

At least that's the way it ought to be, but that issue is another can of worms.

And, there is the matter of that $9 billion that would ease our tax burden, $200 million of which already is lost.