Posted on 10/07/2004 7:29:01 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Proclaiming his pride in ``the great partnership I've won with the people,'' Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger celebrated the first anniversary of his election today vowing to defeat two gambling initiatives he warned would be ``disastrous'' for the state if passed.
Schwarzenegger pushed for the defeat of Propositions 68 and 70 at a ``town hall'' campaign stop that was actually a carefully screened gathering of Silicon Valley business people and local government officials who have already come out against both measures.
Proposition 70 would allow Indian gaming tribes to expand the number of slot machines they can operate in exchange for returning 8.8 percent of their revenue to the state -- the same rate corporations pay. Proposition 68 would have allowed card clubs and race tracks to challenge the tribes' monopoly on casino gambling, but the campaign to pass it was abandoned Wednesday after polls showed it was trailing badly.
Schwarzenegger, who has already negotiated agreements with nine gaming tribes to return $1 billion to the state this year and another $200 million per year in the future, has warned the two propositions would undermine those agreements and allow Las Vegas-style gambling to flourish in California.
``We have to terminate Propositions 68 and 70 -- let's say Hasta la Vista Baby to those propositions,'' Schwarzenegger said to laughter and applause. ``It's a jackpot for special interests and a bust for California.''
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
``Right now it is very important to focus on propositions 68 and 70 so we don't send mixed signals out to the people,'' Schwarzenegger said. ``I've always been very good at focusing on one thing at a time. This is how it works. This is the way the press likes it the best. They don't like writing about too many things at the same time.''
Let's hope the Gub can soon find a little time to focus on campaigning against the demRats.
Prop. 68 backers calling it quits (excerpted)
Card rooms, racetracks admit they can't win, but measure stays on ballot.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/ca/election/story/11004178p-11921369c.html
By Steve Wiegand -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, October 7, 2004
Supporters of a ballot measure that would give slot machines to a collection of California racetracks and card rooms conceded defeat Wednesday, 27 days before the Nov. 2 election and $24 million into a campaign that went nowhere.
"No matter how much money we invest and no matter how many ads that we run ... there's not enough time to clarify these issues for the voters," said Rick Baedeker, president of the Hollywood Park racetrack and chairman of the Yes on Proposition 68 coalition.
He said the decision was made after a meeting in Sacramento among the initiative's major supporters and consultants.
The measure still will appear on the ballot, and pro-68 campaign commercials will run through Friday. After Friday, however, the proponents will shut down their efforts.
Proposition 68 would require all California Indian tribes with casinos to share 25 percent of their net slot machine revenues with specified local public safety and education programs, as well as abide by stricter environmental and consumer protection laws than they do now.
It's all about Money!
I know the proponents of Prop 68 stopped campaigning, but I think it's too late to withdraw the proposition. No?
I hope that includes Schwarzenegger going to bat for Bush in California. Fifty-Five electoral votes goes a long way.
Don't count on Bush taking CA.
I'm not...but I am wishing that Schwarzenegger would do a little bit more to help our President.
Why don't we push for proportional voting on electoral votes for California....It is so unfair that such a large number of votes goes to just one candidate.....
Sounds like a winner to me.. :-o
Did I say that? ;-)
Better yet, divide California up about 4 ways, Illegals, Natives&sane folks, Dopers and Hollywad. ;-)
Correct, the prop stays on the ballot.
Yup! (ya got any spare change, ;-) )
Even Oakland is now getting in the action as a tribe has proposed a casino there.
I fear that Californians will deeply regret the day they allowed the proliferation of gambling to go forward at the rate it currently is rolling out all over the state.
We may be able to convert some of the recently built prisons into debtor prisons, worse case, I guess.
I do not think folks have thoroughly thought thru how this country is so eager to rely on these sources of funds as they will probably cost the states as much in the long run as they benefit the states.
But, you know how special interests are.. and politicians. ;-)
I'm ambivalent about carving up states' EVs, though I must confess that I've long since grown tired of seeing my vote count for nothing when all the Californian EVs go to the anti-American Democrats.
Need your expert help on a crazy thread.
I'll ping you from there.
Actually, gambling ranks about #139th in a list of things that Californians should regret allowing.
This state has long since begun its long slide into the crapper with all the Leftist socialism, envirowhacko nonsense, anti-capitalism, and "social experimentation."
Good point, California has an exceedingly long list of ailments as is.
Watch the Indians get blamed for it when it implodes. ;-)
I read the amendment, and I live right next to one of the horse tracks in question. I'm voting yes. Just the fact that teachers and firemen are allied against it says volumes. 70 is ridiculous though. 99 year contract? Please.
Is that true?
Yup.
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