North Fork Rancheria paid for politician's trip to DC

Wednesday, September 2, 2009  

The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians paid for a council member in the city of Madera, California, to travel to Washington, D.C., and testify in favor of the tribe's proposed casino, The Fresno Bee reports.

The tribe bought Gary Svanda an airline ticket and reimbursed the cost of his hotel stay for his testimony before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee on May 22, 2008. At the hearing, Svanda said he was speaking "on behalf of the City Council of Madera and the Madera County Board of Supervisors" even though neither the city nor the county approved his trip.

Svanda did not report the gift on his financial disclosure form. He only spoke about it after his name was listed in records filed in bankruptcy court by Station Casinos, the tribe's gaming partner.

The tribe is seeking approval for an off-reservation casino near Madera. The Bureau of Indian Affairs released a draft environmental impact statement in February 2008.

Madera County backs the project but the city of Madera has not taken a stand.

Get the Story:
Tribe paid for Madera politician's D.C. trip (The Fresno Bee 9/2)