Marian Ilitch had four sponsors for legislation (SB 168) in 2006 intended to win ratification of a tentative agreement that would allow her the unprecedented privilege to build and manage two off-reservation Indian casinos in Barstow, Calif.
They were Senators Wesley Chesbro and Roy Ashburn along with Assemblymembers Patty Berg and Bill Maze. Their districts represented the Big Lagoon Rancheria and the community of Barstow respectively.
That bill was rejected in an Assembly Committee by a vote of 7-to-2. And failed to gain any traction in the California Senate.
By the end of the 2006 session Team Ilitch could count two other legislators in addition to the original four sponsors as supporters -- Assemblymembers Jay LaSuer and Leland Yee, the two “yes” votes in the Assembly committee.
Yesterday the Ilitch backed Detroit casino syndicate announced they would re-introduce the previously rejected legislation as SB 157. After six months there is really very little they report that's new. They are further behind at the start of this legislative session than they were at the start of last year's failed effort.
This go-round they only have three sponsors: Senators Roy Ashburn and Particia Wiggins (she replaced Wes Chesbro); and Assemblymember Patty Berg. Barwest managing honcho Michael Malik showed his appreciation to all three legislators by making contributions to their political campaign committees in the final weeks of the Fall 2006 election.
There was no reference at the media fanfare to Assemblymember Bill Maze or Assemblyman turned state Senator Leland Yee; two who had backed the failed legislation in 2006. Apparently Assemblyman Bill Maze did not re-up as a co-author.
Unfortuantely the terms of two others who supported the legislation in 2006 expired and Jay LaSuer and Wes Chesbro were prohibited from seeking re-election under term limits. Barwest's Malik rewarded Maze, Yee and Chesbro with contributions to their political funds last summer.
So where do things stand as compared to 2006:
- AUTHORS - One less co-author. They have three sponsors this year for SB 157; in 2006 they had four (SB 168). No one truly new.
LEGISLATIVE SUPPORTERS - Lost 3 supporters (50%). They have three known supporters this year; possibly five if Maze and Yee remain publicly supportive but they did not participate in this weeks announcement; in 2006 they had six supporters by the end of the legislative session. No one new.
LOBBYISTS - Added one new lobbyist. Last year they employed three lobbying firms at a cost of $400,000; this year they’ve added a fourth lobbyist, labor leader Jack Gribbon who is also political director of UNITEHERE.
Previously it took them 12 months to round up six supporters -- that's one every two months. They need 21 Senators and 41 Assemblymembers.
At their previous pace, it would take ten years to line up the necessary support needed to ratify the two unorthodox Casino agreements.
According to Big Lagoon Tribal Chairman, they only have three months.
Could it be any more clear? ... This is about Detroit casino syndicators standing in the way of others and guarding what one reader calls the "High Desert gaming franchise."
Waging a full-scale war hasn't made any progress for Ilitch and she's apparently failed to enter into any kind of dialogue or negotiation with opponents.
Detroit's pigheadedness and those who have marched in lock-step behind the pied piper will ultimately cost Barstow any hope of economic prosperity in the near future. In the end, several struggling communities within California's 34th Assembly/18th Senate Districts will be the losers. The few who are under contract or receive "stipends" will have been the only beneficiaries.
You may also want to review these posts:
The Verifiable Truth: as predicted -- Ilitch Casino Team fails to produce any hopeful news
The Verifiable Truth: Press Release--2007 CA Legislation, reintroducing the Barstow Casinos plan previously rejected by an Assembly Committee
The Verifiable Truth: Re-introducing rejected Barstow Casino Bill, Ilitch finds herself even further behind
The Verifiable Truth: Bottom of the ninth and Ilitch's Barstow Casinos scheme is down by at least 57 votes
The Verifiable Truth: Legislative Score Card
The Verifiable Truth: Senator Ashburn supports casinos in Barstow; is ambivalent about Big Lagoon and Los Coyotes Tribes
The Verifiable Truth: Political cash for those who author SB 157 - the Barstow Casinos bill
2 comments:
It is shameful that our own legislator officials are standing up for outside tribes and won't back those right here at home in the Mohave Desert.
We could not agree more Clarence. It is a crying shame that our own officials want to import some Indians from outside.
We should take care of our own first!
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