SB 1328 Shelved - SB 1626 Up Next

SB 1328 has been shelved in the face of stiff opposition from California's powerful gaming tribes.

Sen. Gil Cedillo, who is carrying the bill, canceled a public hearing set for today on the measure.

Cedillo said he has not given up on the legislation and will take time to meet with Indian tribal leaders in an effort to allay their concerns.

The move will allow the tribes to focus next week on another bingo bill that they like even less. That measure, SB 1626, would legalize electronic bingo machines similar to slot machines for charities. The bill is being carried by the Senate's leader-elect, Democrat Darrell Steinberg of Sacramento.

Steinberg said yesterday that he plans to proceed with a hearing before the Senate Governmental Organization Committee next Tuesday despite mounting tribal opposition to his bill.

“My motive is very simple,” Steinberg said. “I want to make sure that the charities in my district, specifically the WIND Youth Center, has the ability to continue fulfilling its incredibly important mission. Electronic bingo is the way they raise money.”

Tribes have warned that hundreds of bingo machines operating in Sacramento County and elsewhere violate Indian casinos' guaranteed monopoly on slots and other electronic-gaming devices. A breach of the guarantee could cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

Talking about his bill, Cedillo said, “We remain committed to the bill. Because we are, we want to take the time to make sure that the opponents understand, as we believe, that this bill does not pose a threat to them.”

Because today's hearing was canceled, Cedillo's bill will miss an initial deadline to start moving through the process. But it could be resurrected later or amended into another piece of legislation.

“We'll get a hearing this year,” vowed John Lovell, a lobbyist for groups backing the measure.
Tribes insist bingo operators should be subject to state regulation. Bingo machines are illegal under state law, tribal attorneys have argued.

“The bingo industry has regulations,” said Anthony Miranda, chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association. “We would like to see them adhere to the laws and regulations already in place for them.”

Yet another legal battle brewing in the pot in my view.

One more to add to the long list of issues to be solved in the long process of attaining some sort of equilibrium when it comes to tribal sovereignty and gaming and the states and our country…..and its still just the beginning.

Full Article:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080415/news_1n15bingo.html