Leading California Business Organizations
Endorse YES on Props 94, 95, 96 and 97

With the state now facing a projected $14 billion budget deficit,
CalChamber, local chambers of commerce praise economic
benefits of Indian Gaming Revenue Agreements

SACRAMENTO – The Coalition to Protect California's Budget & Economy today announced that more than two dozen statewide and local business organizations throughout California, including the California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber), have formally endorsed a YES vote on Propositions 94, 95, 96, and 97 to preserve the four historic state-tribal Indian gaming agreements negotiated by the Governor and ratified by a bipartisan majority of the Legislature with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians; the Morongo Band of Mission Indians; the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians; and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation.

"We are encouraging voters to support Propositions 94, 95, 96 and 97 because approval of these measures will protect a steady and significant revenue source to the state's general fund and help pay for schools, roads and bridges, public safety and health care," said CalChamber President and Chief Executive Officer Allan Zaremberg.

The new compact agreements require the tribes to pay a much higher percentage of their net gaming revenues – up to 25% – to the state. In all, the payments would provide our state General Fund more than $200 million in the first year with revenues increasing significantly in future years, and more than $9 billion total over the next two decades – for public safety, schools and other crucial state services.

In addition to CalChamber, many local chambers of commerce and business organizations have signed on in support of a Yes vote on Props 94-97, including:

• California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce
• Small Business Action Committee
• California Association for Local Economic Development
• Economic Development Corporation of Southwest California
• Business, Industry, and Government Coalition of the South San Joaquin Valley
• San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Banning Chamber of Commerce
• Cabazon Chamber of Commerce
• Lake Elsinore Chamber of Commerce
• Murrieta Chamber of Commerce
• Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce
• Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce
• San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce
• Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce
• San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Inland Empire Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Los Angeles Metro Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Napa County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Long Beach
• Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• San Mateo County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Santa Barbara Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Silicon Valley
• Greater Corona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• American Indian Chamber of Commerce of California
• The California Hotel and Lodging Association

The business organizations join a broad coalition of public safety, taxpayer, education, labor, local government, Indian Tribes and community groups in supporting a Yes vote on Propositions 94, 95, 96 and 97.

To see our latest list of supporters, visit the Who We Are section of our website at www.YesforCalifornia.com.

Media with additional inquiries about the Coalition to Protect California’s Budget & Economy can contact Roger Salazar at (916) 444-8897.