California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) praised the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians for working with the state and local communities but vetoed a bill that would given the tribe a seat on a local government consortium.

AB 1747 [Link] would have let the tribe join a joint powers authority that was created for Conaway Ranch. With the help of the tribe, Yolo County is trying to acquire the ranch through eminent domain. The effort is controversial.

In his veto message [PDF], Schwarzenegger said he had problems with the bill. "[A]llowing a tribal government that is not subject to all of the federal, state and local laws that protect the public, to participate in the exercise of public power, particularly off reservation lands, diminishes public accountability and control," he wrote.

"The simple fact is that the sovereign tribes can work cooperatively with their local governments through agreements and memorandums of understanding as contemplated in the tribal-state compacts my administration has executed," he added.

The Rumsey Band is one of the few tribes that signed a new compact with Schwarzenegger.

Get the Story:
Veto deals Yolo a blow on Conaway (The Davis Enterprise 10/10)
Tribe's role questioned in bill veto (The Woodland Democrat 10/9)
Governor Vetoes Bill to Let Tribe Help Manage Land (KXTV 10/8)

Relevant Links:
Rumsey Rancheria - http://www.rumseyrancheria.org

Related Stories:
Opinion: Tribes criticized for working with neighbors (09/21)
Editorial: Don't give California tribe more powers (09/13)
Tribe teams up with county on eminent domain push (9/9)