CA Senate takes up the Indian gambling compacts today.

posted this morning by The Sacramento Bee's CapitolAlert:

The AM Alert - Breaking News
Published 5:50 am PDT Thursday, April 19, 2007

[In Sacramento today,] The Senate takes up the Indian gambling compacts today.

Negotiated last year by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger at the close of the legislative session, the five compacts would allow for the expansion of 22,500 new slot machines in the state.

Over the next 25 years, California stands to receive $13.4 billion to $22.4 billion in casino revenue-sharing payments, if the compacts are approved.

Organized labor has been heavily lobbying to scuttle the compacts, though unions are expected to draw the line in the Assembly, not the Senate, where Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata supports the gambling deals.