A Few California Gaming News Items

Resolution To Consider Public Sentiment Dies

Assemblyman Jared Huffman’s resolution to urge the governor and lawmakers to take into consideration public sentiment when deciding on gaming compacts with tribes has died. Huffman’s idea was to use affected local advisory election votes as a prime factor when considering these compacts.

The resolution died due to lobbying from pro-casino interest groups.

Huffman, who’s 6th District includes Sonoma County where the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria have proposed a casino complex in Rohnert Park, saw absolutely no support for is idea, and instead, at hearing of the state Senate Government Organization committee in Sacramento this past Tuesday, saw labor groups, a Rohnert Park public safety official and tribal officers contended that Sonoma County residents support a casino.

Huffman said it was ironic to see such opposition to a measure that would have emphasized the role of public opinion.

Personally, I kind of agree with Huffman. His non-binding legislation, which means that the governor and legislators could ignore it if passed, was meant to only give the governor and lawmakers an idea of what kind of local public support there might or might not be for new casino proposals.

The resolution also asked Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to live up to a 2005 promise to weigh public opposition before negotiating gaming compacts, which he is required to do under federal law, and to refrain from agreements until tribal land was taken into trust.

That seems logical to me. Why go through all the negotiations and agreements when, in the end, it could all be moot if the tribe doesn’t have the land to build on?

“The fix was in,” Huffman said. “The message we got was don’t even go there. There are too many powerful interests involved.”

Casino supporters said the lack of action was proof casinos are popular.

Greg Sarris, tribal chairman of the Graton Rancheria, in a written statement on the failure of Huffman’s measure stated, “The outcome indicates Assemblyman Huffman is alone in his viewpoint. There is in fact great community support for this project and the benefits it will bring to the community, and clearly the Legislature believes likewise.”

The plans for the proposed casino are pretty much in limbo. The project is to be financed by Las Vegas-based Station Casino Inc., which filed for bankruptcy in July but is still pursuing the project.

Progress has also been slowed by opponents of the casino, who sued the federal government to prevent the land from becoming a reservation. The case is still in court.

Huffman isn’t giving up though. He plans on meeting with Sen. Roderick Wright, the committee chairman, to see if any part of the resolution could be acceptable.
Petaluma City Councilman Mike Healy, who spoke in support of Huffman at Tuesday’s hearing, said he will ask the Board of Supervisors to place a casino advisory measure on the June primary ballot. Such a vote was proposed about a year ago but the board decided against it.

Online Poker Bill Delayed

A bill to allow online poker in California has been delayed due to time restraints. Senator Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, said that while he thought the proposal was “a legitimate idea for consideration… it should not be taken up in the last four weeks.” “I think it’s going to take more than four weeks to analyze that kind of proposal and the potential economic benefits,” he stated.

The current legislative year ends on September 11.

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians had been seeking a sponsor to expedite its five-page draft bill that would create a centralized online poker website for customers within California borders. There is some dissention among gaming tribes in California on this idea.

More on this proposal can be found in this earlier post:
http://rml-sulumhasscientia.blogspot.com/2009/08/tribes-join-card-clubs-for-legalized.html

NIGC Extends Effective Date of New Regulations

From the National Indian Gaming website:
http://www.nigc.gov/ReadingRoom/PressReleases/PR115082009/tabid/928/Default.aspx

Washington, DC August 25, 2009 — Today the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) extended the effective date of its updated final housekeeping regulations. The intent of the rule changes published in the Federal Register on July 27, 2009, are to reduce the fee reporting burdens on tribes, remove obsolete provisions, clarify existing appellate procedures, update and clarify management contract procedures, clarify various definitions, simplify audit requirements, and add gaming on ineligible lands to the class of substantial violations warranting immediate closure.

The rule’s effective date was scheduled for August 26, 2009, but the Commission is extending that effective date to December 31, 2009, to aid the transition.