...Dan Morain writes that the fight over tribal compacts has entered the presidential race, as Democratic candidates are balking over a proposed debate at Morongo.
"Only two presidential candidates -- New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel -- have agreed to take part in the "Prez on the Rez" event planned for Aug. 23 at the Morongo casino-resort near Banning.
Tribal leaders suspect that labor unions are discouraging candidates from appearing until more worker concessions are incorporated into the compacts.
"Kalyn Free of the Indigenous Democratic Network, which is sponsoring the debate, said candidates' failure to attend could determine who Native Americans supported and how much the deep-pocket tribes spent in the campaign.
"'Tribal leaders are going to remember who came to 'Prez on the Rez' and, more importantly, who didn't,' Free said.
"In proposing a forum at Morongo, Free stepped into the middle of a years-long fight over efforts to organize casino workers. It comes as Morongo and four other Southern California tribes seek legislative approval to more than double the size of their casinos, an effort stalled in part because of labor opposition.
"Free said the top candidates had not responded because of pressure by a union, Unite Here, which is trying to organize casino workers at Morongo and elsewhere. The union denies seeking a boycott.
"'I'm aware,' said Jack Gribbon, the union's California political director, 'that there may be a Democratic presidential candidate or two who is concerned about the ongoing struggle in California over enforceable workers rights. However, to say that Unite Here has specifically asked that candidates not attend is not true.'"
No comments:
Post a Comment