CNIGA
Develops Guidelines for Compacts
As reported by the San Diego
Union-Tribune: "California's oldest and
largest tribal alliance is quietly pondering
a controversial move that could give the organization
a prominent role in shaping the future of Indian
gambling in the state.
"The
California Nations Indian Gaming Association
has been developing guidelines for gambling
agreements negotiated between individual tribes
and the state.
"Until
now, the powerful organization has stayed out
of that debate, maintaining that the agreements,
or compacts, are the sole province of each tribe
at the negotiating table.
"But,
with an approved set of criteria, the organization
would be able to weigh in during the Legislature's
consideration of new compacts. Five agreements,
including two for separate San Diego and Imperial
county tribes, have been stalled in the Legislature
for months.
"…The
association includes a combustible mix of gaming
tribes and remote bands still hoping to get
into the industry. It has long been considered
the state's dominant tribal lobby and one of
the most prominent in the country, but it has
been in decline. At least a dozen big gaming
tribes – including Barona, Pala, Rincon
and Viejas from San Diego County – have
left the organization since late 2002.
"The
push within the association to abandon its neutrality
on compacts has been driven by established gaming
tribes who fear that the Schwarzenegger administration
is piecing together a tough template for the
compacts. Administration officials privately
have confirmed as much…"
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