"[Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger] is incensed at these tribes � principally the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in Palm Springs and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians in San Bernardino � for trying, through Proposition 70, to expand gambling in California without dealing with him. Ditto for the card rooms and racetracks that have been attempting to piggyback onto the Indians' gambling fortunes with Proposition 68.

'We have to terminate Proposition 68 and Proposition 70 � a jackpot for special interests and a bust for California,' Schwarzenegger told a carefully screened group of roughly 200 cheering supporters at a so-called 'town hall' meeting in Irvine on Wednesday.

The California public was sympathetic in 1998 when it was asked to amend for past sins and allow Indians to prosper by building gambling casinos on their rural reservations.

Now some of the richest and most ambitious tribes seem to be squandering the voters' goodwill, based on polls.

'It is tremendous greed,' Schwarzenegger told me. 'They want to rip off the people�. Pull the wool over people's eyes.'"

Get the Story:
George Skelton: Schwarzenegger Is a Sure Bet as He Steps Up Fight to Beat Gambling Measures (The Los Angeles Times 10/7)
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