"Seven propositions will appear on the Feb. 5 ballot. Among the most controversial are four propositions dealing with Indian casinos.

The four measures, Propositions 94, 95, 96 and 97, ask voters to approve four gaming compacts with Indian tribes in Southern California — the Pechanga, Morongo, Agua Caliente and Sycuan.

If these measures are approved, the magnitude of the expansion in California gambling operations would be astounding: 17,000 more slot machines in just four casinos that now have around 2,000 slot machines each.

As of Jan. 18, more than $100 million had been spent on these initiatives (Propositions 94-97) making the gambling initiative battle the costliest in California’s history, according to an article from the Copley News Service.

The four tribes advocating the ballot measures have collectively spent an estimated $82.7 million. The opposition to the measures, which comes largely from two other casino-operating tribes (the Pala Band of Mission Indians and the United Auburn Indian Community), a casino workers union, and the owners of the Hollywood Park and Bay Meadows race tracks, have spent an estimated $25.9 million.

Fueling the propositions’ controversy is the fact that the voters’ decision on the Indian Casino gambling compacts may not even matter because of action taken by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger."

Get the Story:
Cal Planakis: Vote NO on Indian Gaming (The Santa Clarita Valley Signal 1/29)

Other Opinions:
Editorial: Vote yes on Propositions 94, 95, 96 and 97 (The Redlands Daily Facts 1/30)
Kathy Cleary: Vote no on Indian gaming initiatives (The Tracy Press 1/30)