Posted on 06/28/2007 7:39:42 AM PDT by SmithL
Four of California's wealthiest Indian gambling tribes and Assembly Democrats broke a prolonged stalemate Wednesday, striking a controversial deal that could trigger thousands of new casino slot machines and billions of dollars for the state treasury.
The tribes, lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed off on side agreements that appear to provide political cover for the Legislature's approval of gambling compacts negotiated last year.
Organized labor, which had lobbied Democrats to force union-friendly provisions on the tribes, criticized Wednesday's signing of separate "memorandum of understanding" accords as "an unbelievable betrayal."
But the state Senate and Assembly are due to vote today to approve major casino expansions for the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians.
Schwarzenegger last year signed five gambling compacts to allow up to 22,500 new slot machines. The compacts also include the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, which refused to sign an additional side agreement.
If all five tribal deals go though, they could increase the number of slot machines in California -- totaling 58,120 last year -- by more than one-third.
Schwarzenegger said the gambling deals could generate $13.4 billion to $22.4 billion in tribal revenue-sharing payments to the state over 25 years.
"These agreements will enhance our already strong compacts and give the Legislature the assurances they need to approve the compacts, which will bring in much needed revenue for vital services and programs," the Republican governor said in a statement Wednesday.
The five compacts, signed by Schwarzenegger last summer, were approved by the state Senate in April. But they bogged down in the Assembly amid intense opposition from labor groups and concerns over state and federal authority to regulate...
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
California could solve several major problems at once by making a change in the philosophy of how they treat petty criminals. They have made a few tentative steps in that direction, but they need the great leap.
To issue substantial fines instead of jail time, *if* you are able to pay.
For example, if you had to pay $10,000 for a first offense DUI, but got no jail time, how many of you would be willing to pay that money, even if you had to borrow it? The alternative might be months in jail, losing your job and being emotionally and financially devastated.
With this penalty alone, just for this one offense, California could erase most of its debt in short order.
Of course, they would still have to put people who couldn’t pay in jail, but tough.
Now imagine this concept applied across the board to petty crimes.
They catch some kid with middle class parents vandalizing something, so he gets a $5,000 fine. If he can’t pay it, then his parents have to.
And the huge fine only applies to the first offense. If they do it again, then they get a big whopping fine *and* jail time.
The important point is to TAX violators of the law. They are the people who MOST taxes should be paid by.
If you're 'ronbbing Peter to pay Paul' you can ALWAYS count on Paul's support!
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