Davis Ignores Schwarzenegger Request; Signs Bills
POSTED: 6:33 p.m. PDT October 12, 2003
UPDATED: 7:32 p.m. PDT October 12, 2003
Two of the measures ratified agreements the Davis administration had already negotiated this summer with Indian tribes that want to open new gambling facilities in Southern California.
One, the Torres-Martinez Band of Desert Cahuilla Indians of Thermal, plans to install 350 slot machines at an Imperial County truck stop and another 1,650 slots at a casino the tribe wants to build on up to 640 acres in Riverside County.
The other bill allows two Indian tribes in San Diego County -- the La Posta Band of Diegueno Mission Indians and the Santa Ysabel Band of Diegueno Mission Indians -- to operate up to 350 slot machines apiece.
"The signing of these laws is the final hurdle in helping these tribes establish successful long-desired economic development projects on their reservations," Davis said in a statement.
Facing a midnight deadline for approving or vetoing more than 250 pieces of legislation that still were on his desk this weekend, Davis also signed Sunday a bill authorizing $25 million in local government aid "to mitigate impacts from tribal casinos."
In addition, he inked a measure extending by three years, until Jan. 1, 2010, an existing statewide moratorium barring the construction and licensing of gambling facilities not operated by Indian tribes.
The growing influence of Indian gaming in California became a significant issue in the Oct. 7 recall election, where tribes enriched by casino profits emerged as the most generous campaign contributors.
The top Democratic candidate, Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, was put on the defensive for his handling of millions of dollars in contributions from tribes, criticism that played a role in sinking his aspirations for higher office.
California currently has 54 Indian-owned casinos, and including the three tribes who had their agreements ratified Sunday, another 10 tribes are authorized to establish new ones.
Under terms of the agreements Davis signed Sunday, the three tribes have agreed to share up to 5 percent of their casino profits. As a candidate, Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger said he thought the government should be more aggressive in seeking a bigger share of those profits.
The gambling-related measures were among dozens of bills the lame-duck governor signed over the weekend as he hurried to seal his legacy before losing his job. Davis will be replaced once the election results are certified, probably next month.
Schwarzenegger had asked Davis to stop considering bills after he was recalled, but a Davis spokesman said the governor wanted to go through with the process "to show he really supports" the measures he signed.
Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
