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January 23, 2008
San Diego Union Tribune, Ventura County Star, North County Times, Lodi News-Sentinel Endorse YES on 94, 95, 96 and 97
SACRAMENTO – The San Diego Union Tribune, Ventura County Star, the North County Times and Lodi News-Sentinel all endorsed a Yes vote on the Indian Gaming Agreements in editorials that ran this past weekend.
The Ventura County Star editorial praises the fiscal benefits of the amended compacts contained in Propositions 94, 95, 96 & 97:
“The Star supports yes votes not least of all because all four amendments significantly increase the state's share of Indian gambling revenue at a time the state is facing a shortfall of at least $14 billion in the coming fiscal year. Potentially, the amendments could generate $9 billion for the state over the next 20 years.”
The San Diego Union Tribune notes this about the measures while endorsing Propositions 94, 95, & 97:
“The measures won bipartisan approval in Sacramento because they would give the state a significant cut of the tribes' gaming revenues and require better – though not ideal – auditing of casino operations. The tribes also agreed to new environmental safeguards and to binding agreements with local communities to mitigate traffic and other adverse impacts of new projects. The compacts have unusually broad backing – from public safety officials thankful for the tribes' generous community support to local governments anticipating positive economic effects to state leaders eager for new revenue.”
The Star editorial notes that the compacts are the result of lengthy negotiations between the tribes and Governor Schwarzenegger, and that they underwent a comprehensive review and approval process before they were ratified by a bipartisan majority of the state legislature and approved by the federal government:
“The compact amendments were negotiated with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in August 2006, vetted by the state Legislature after multiple hearings and approved by the federal government last year.”
The Star, the Times and the Union Tribune also comment on the motivations of the opponents of Propositions 94, 95, 96 & 97. Says the North County Times:
“The attempt to overturn these existing tribal compacts is nothing more than an attempt by one group of tribes to involve the voters in a grudge match against another group of tribes that reached legally binding agreements with Gov. Schwarzenegger that they don't like. The dissenting tribes just don't like that some tribes were willing to give up more money to the state for more slot machines when they have not been.”
The Star adds:
“The United Auburn Indian Community of Auburn Rancheria of Rocklin (Placer County) and the Pala Band of Mission Indians of Pala (San Diego County) and race-track owners at Hollywood Park and Bay Meadows in San Mateo are bankrolling the referenda to reduce competition for their own gambling operations. They are not motivated, as their ads imply, by concern about expanding gambling.”
And the Union Tribune sums up:
“The only reason Californians are being asked to ratify the measures is because of a campaign funded by rival gambling interests, including a Las Vegas casino owner.”
Finally, the Lodi News Sentinel, in endorsing a Yes vote on Propositions 94-97, dispels the false charges being leveled by the No on 94-97 campaign:
“Here, the politicians weren't feathering their own nests. Rather they were doing the job we pay them to do: balance the interests of the tribes and the taxpayers.”
The editorials can be read in their entirety here:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/op-ed/editorial1/20080121-9999-mz1ed21top.html
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/jan/20/yes-on-props-94-95-96-97/
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/01/20/opinion/editorials/12_38_511_19_08.txt
http://www.lodinews.com/articles/2008/01/20/opinion/editorials/edt_prop_080119.txt
The Los Angeles Times, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Riverside Press-Enterprise, Palm Springs Desert Sun, the Tracy Press, and Black Voice News have also editorialized in favor of the initiatives. These endorsements reflect the sentiments of a broad coalition of public safety, taxpayer, education, labor, local government, business, Indian Tribes and community groups who are supporting Propositions 94, 95, 96 and 97.
For more information, please visit www.YESforCalifornia.com.
Media with additional inquiries about the Coalition to Protect California’s Budget & Economy can contact Roger Salazar at (916) 444-8897.