Feinstein supports Florez's effort to block mega-casino on Highway 99 in Madera County
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who opposes building Indian casinos on non-reservation land, has written a letter to State Sen. Dean Florez saying she supports his bill to block state tribal compacts before tribes get federal recognition of the land intended for a casino. This effort is aimed at the Madera County casino the North Fork Rancheria of the Mono Indians wants to build on Highway 99. It would be 40 miles from the tribe's land.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has already negotiated a compact with the tribe. The agreement still must get legislative approval. All this comes even before the federal government has taken the Highway 99 land into federal trust. Florez has been working to block the compact in the state Senate.
In an April 29 letter to Florez, Feinstein says she opposes the North Fork compact, and has notified the governor of that opposition. She says Florez's bill is crucial in light of the Schwarzenegger-approved compact.
"I believe efforts to develop compacts with tribes in advance of federal recognition status or trust land approval manipulates the process," says Feinstein's letter.
The only reason the compact has been negotiated early is to pressure the federal government to approve the tribe's trust application, according to Feinstein.
Comments
and for all the wrong reasons...meanwhile, I feel like the lone Baptist at a heathen convention. I just don't see any good coming from the casino craze. The lottery was going to save our schools, how'd that work out?
Posted by: swift | May 7, 2008 10:54 AM
Amen Swift I don't see how our schools were bettered by the lottery and also don't see how this casino could be helpful except to provide more jobs.
Posted by: Jackie Krage | May 7, 2008 11:39 AM
Two Democrats attempting to do the right thing? Must be the third and final sign of the Apocalypse!
Posted by: T C Morgan | May 7, 2008 11:56 AM
Oh yeah, the casino won't help "except providing more jobs"...try about 4,000 of them! With unemployment 25% higher and housing prices 25% lower now than the same period last year in Madera (just to name a few economic ills) maybe a few jobs wouldn't be such a bad thing. 97-99% of people gamble responsibly and the Sheriff of Madera is on record saying there won't be an increase in crime, so what exactly is your problem with the casino? Don't blame the Indians for the state's shifting of lottery money. And don't make everyone else adhere to your personal rigid moralist views of how the world should work. That's what they do in Iran, not the US.
Posted by: Charlie | May 7, 2008 2:14 PM
Even if people gamble "responsibly" (and I'd like to see where that 97-99% figure comes from), that's still discretionary money that would have probably largely been spent at other businesses in the community. So there's usually no net gain from casino gambling when the gamblers come from within the region.
Posted by: Mike D. | May 7, 2008 3:20 PM
Pardon me for having my own opinion on the casino. I suppose I am just supposed to say ok Charlie is right and I am wrong. NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
Posted by: Jackie Krage | May 7, 2008 7:48 PM
Charlie, you may have those statistics confused with the percentage of (responsible)lottery winners that ultimately declare bankruptcy in our fair state...although I think it's really only in the high 80's%....
Posted by: swift | May 7, 2008 8:00 PM
It's all parastic no matter where you are on the casino food chain.Responsible gambling is an oxy-moron and the devestation gambling causes to individuals, families and society should receive more exposure from the media.California has sold its soul to the tribes and the lottery for a few handouts...Irony anyone?
Posted by: Brian Murray | May 7, 2008 8:08 PM
...and so we are in agreement, T.C.?...somebody say, "amen"
Posted by: swift | May 7, 2008 9:49 PM
Going into the Indian Casinos you will see the elderly on fixed incomes and people on welfare and unemployment as well blowing money that is certainly all they have to live on and someone will suffer withpout something because of their responsible gambling. Gambling is strictly for those responsible people that can take what they can comfortably lose and leave when it is gone. Those people are very rare.
Posted by: Jackie Krage | May 8, 2008 7:27 AM
While I will support anyone who is opposed to tribal gaming, I wonder if Feinstein would be opposed if Perini Construction, for whom her husband works, had won the contract to build the expansion. My opposition to tribal gaming is that it is unconstitutional because it discriminates against everyone who isn't an Indian. It galls me to see anyone, regardless of race, creed, or national origin receive handouts because they are too damn lazy and uneducated to do anything other than sit on their derrieres
Posted by: Clark | May 9, 2008 8:04 AM