"It’s no secret that observing the lawmaking process is a lot like watching sausage being made — you really don’t want to do that.

But, if someone isn’t watching, sometimes unsavory things are tossed into the mix. With regard to legislation, a demonstration of unsavoriness would be California Senate Bill 162, which — if it makes it through the entire process — would prevent state agencies from opposing an Indian tribe’s attempts to annex private land into a tribal reservation.

For most folks, that might not seem like much of a big deal. In the Santa Ynez Valley, however, we believe a majority of residents would tell you the idea is preposterous."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Put shameful bill back into the grinder (The Solvang Valley News 6/7)

Related Stories:
California bill bars state opposition to certain land-into-trust bids (6/1)