04.20.07Senate OKs more slots for tribes
By AARON C. DAVIS
The Associated Press
SACRAMENTO - The California Senate on Thursday approved the largest expansion of Indian gambling in the state since tribes were given the authority to operate casinos.
Before they begin installing 22,500 new slot machines, however, the tribes must persuade reluctant members of the Assembly, which is controlled by Democrats with deep ties to labor unions that oppose the deals.
The clash of California's political titans - labor vs. gambling tribes - will be compounded by pressure from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. He negotiated the agreements last year and has bet on the Legislature approving the compacts to balance his spending plan for the budget year beginning in July.
Schwarzenegger is counting on the tribes to be able to install thousands of slot machines by July to begin bringing in the $500-million annual share of casino winnings to the state provided for under the deals. The revenue is increasingly crucial for the governor this year to deliver on his promise of eliminating the state's chronic budget deficit given that state tax revenue is lagging $1.3 billion below forecasts.
"There's a lot of marbles on the table now," said Jack Gribbon, California political director for Unite Here, the casino and hotel workers union that has promised to pour its resources into defeating the compacts.
"We're talking about an extraordinarily wealthy industry that's been very willing to throw its weight around ... If we do not oppose this now, I don't know why we would exist. At stake are the rights of 50,000 workers to address living wages, health care and job security for the next 23 years."
The compacts approved Thursday allow five wealthy Southern California tribes that already operate 10,000 slot machines to install as many as 22,500 more, as well as card tables and other casino games.
The Senate also approved 99 slot machines for a tribe in far Northern California that has tried for years to get authorization for a gambling.
The Associated Press
SACRAMENTO - The California Senate on Thursday approved the largest expansion of Indian gambling in the state since tribes were given the authority to operate casinos.
Before they begin installing 22,500 new slot machines, however, the tribes must persuade reluctant members of the Assembly, which is controlled by Democrats with deep ties to labor unions that oppose the deals.
The clash of California's political titans - labor vs. gambling tribes - will be compounded by pressure from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. He negotiated the agreements last year and has bet on the Legislature approving the compacts to balance his spending plan for the budget year beginning in July.
Schwarzenegger is counting on the tribes to be able to install thousands of slot machines by July to begin bringing in the $500-million annual share of casino winnings to the state provided for under the deals. The revenue is increasingly crucial for the governor this year to deliver on his promise of eliminating the state's chronic budget deficit given that state tax revenue is lagging $1.3 billion below forecasts.
"There's a lot of marbles on the table now," said Jack Gribbon, California political director for Unite Here, the casino and hotel workers union that has promised to pour its resources into defeating the compacts.
"We're talking about an extraordinarily wealthy industry that's been very willing to throw its weight around ... If we do not oppose this now, I don't know why we would exist. At stake are the rights of 50,000 workers to address living wages, health care and job security for the next 23 years."
The compacts approved Thursday allow five wealthy Southern California tribes that already operate 10,000 slot machines to install as many as 22,500 more, as well as card tables and other casino games.
The Senate also approved 99 slot machines for a tribe in far Northern California that has tried for years to get authorization for a gambling.
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