California compacts expected to win Senate vote

Thursday, April 19, 2007  

Six California tribes are expected to win approval for their gaming compacts in the state Senate today.

The deals would allow five tribes -- the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Mission Indians, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Nation -- to add up to 22,500 slot machines to their casinos. A sixth compact allows the Yurok Tribe to open a small facility with 99 machines.

Democrats sponsored all of the compacts in hopes of ensuring approval. The deals failed last year due to objections from labor unions.

Those objections are expected to cause problems for the compacts in the state Assembly. Speaker Fabian Nunez said they won't pass as written.

Get the Story:
Perata vs. Nunez: Perata offers olive branch on tribal compacts (The Capitol Weekly 4/17)