Taking no chances with gambling?

Steve Wiegand - Capitol Alert - April 07, 2008

Attorney General Jerry Brown has been eager to sue everyone under the sun when it comes to protecting the environment, and he’s even shown some interest in cracking down on street gangs – or at least holding press conferences to say he’s interested in cracking down on street gangs.

But over at his agency’s Bureau of Gambling Control, some concern has been privately expressed that the ex-and-future(?) guv is not real interested in gambling issues. So little, in fact, that there’s a rumor the AG’s office is pondering a shift of the bureau (which used to be a full-fledged division under Bill Lockyer, Brown’s predecessor) to the State Gambling Control Commission.

The commission, which falls under the auspices of the governor’s office, was created in 1998 when the state first ok'd widespread Indian casino gambling. But it has relied on the attorney general’s office for enforcement.

Officially, Brown spokesman Gareth Lacy said there is no formal study going on to see if the transfer is doable. A spokeswoman for Gov. Schwarzenegger said the administration was not behind any shift study either. “But we’re certainly open to the idea,” said Sabrina Lockhart.
At least some of the state’s most powerful casino tribes, however, might not be as open.

Traditionally the tribes have gotten along better with the AG’s office than the commission. Still, a shift would make it easier for the well-heeled tribes to make campaign contributions to Brown and avoid conflict-of-interest charges when, er, if he runs for governor in 2010.

http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/buzzplus/011673.html