A California appeals court will determine whether tribes are subject to the state's campaign finance laws.

The Fair Political Practices Commission, a state agency, has sued two tribes. The agency won one case against the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians but lost the other against the Santa Rosa Rancheria in Kings County.

The 3rd circuit in California heard the Agua Caliente case yesterday. According to The Riverside Press-Enterprise, the judges on the court were skeptical of the tribe's view that, as a sovereign, it doesn't have to comply with the state mandates.

Get the Story:
Tribe asks state court to dismiss suit (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 2/19)
Court hears tribe's case (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 2/19)
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Tribe Seeking Exemption From Disclosure Laws (The Los Angeles Times 2/19)
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Relevant Links:
Fair Political Practices Commission - http://www.fppc.ca.gov

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