Posted on 01/11/2006 8:57:18 PM PST by NormsRevenge
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) - The chairman of a Southern California Indian tribe that gave $10 million to indicted Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff apologized Wednesday to other tribal leaders for the ensuing scandal that has tainted many tribes.
Richard Milanovich, chairman of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, said tribal officials had only good intentions when they hired Abramoff. He told delegates at the Western Indian Gaming Conference that fallout from the scandal already is hurting the image of tribes in Washington.
Abramoff pleaded guilty last week to felony charges involving influence peddling.
"It really pains me. It hurts me to know that the fallout from that (scandal) is affecting all of us in Indian Country, not just our tribe," Milanovich said. "I apologize to each and every one of you and to all of your people for it happening, and I know that other tribes also regret that it took place."
The corruption scandal involves several members of Congress and their aides, including former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Some legislators have returned campaign contributions tied to Abramoff or his clients.
U.S. Rep. Mary Bono, R-Palm Springs, received $21,500 from tribes represented by Abramoff but has not been implicated in the federal investigation.
Worries about the potential impact of the Abramoff scandal were at the forefront as the three-day conference for casino-operating tribes started Wednesday. Tribal leaders from 23 states are here to debate policy, plan political strategy and hear sales pitches on everything from roast beef to casino security.
National Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernie Stevens Jr. said Indian gambling opponents in Washington will try to "use Indian Country as a scapegoat" in the wake of the corruption scandal.
"But I'll tell you, no tribal leader ever agreed to be lied to or cheated or misguided," he said during opening remarks. "Never once have I seen Jack Abramoff in our camp."
The Agua Caliente tribe, which owns two casinos in the Palm Springs area, gave Abramoff associates around $10 million for Washington lobbying over a two-year period, Milanovich said in an interview after his address.
About two-thirds of the money went to Abramoff's former business partner and former DeLay aide Michael Scanlon, who also has pleaded guilty in the corruption case. About a third went to Abramoff's former Washington law firm, Greenberg Traurig.
Milanovich said he had concerns about the lobbying money from the start, but the Agua Caliente tribal council wanted a stronger presence in the nation's capital and voted to hire Greenberg Traurig, which Milanovich said has about 1,200 attorneys.
"I feel betrayed, but I didn't feel good about it in the first place," he said during the interview.
Still, he said it's unfair that tribes are being painted with the same brush as Abramoff, although they were not aware of illegal activity.
"We have done nothing wrong, but still we are having our names drug through the mud," Milanovich said. "It was a few individuals who took advantage of the system."
Abramoff and Scanlon collected $66 million from six American Indian tribes seeking influence in Washington, but tribes now accuse them of overbilling and delivering little.
Abramoff did deliver on some occasions, however. He and other lobbyists recruited members of Congress to try to block Indian casinos that wealthy tribes saw as rivals and secured federal money for some tribes.
Casino-operating tribes he represented also contributed millions of dollars to congressional campaigns.
A report released last summer found that the more than 400 Indian casinos nationwide pulled in $19 billion in revenue in 2004. California's gambling tribes took in $5.3 billion.
Indian tribes that operate casinos are among California's most politically influential groups. Milanovich's tribe, the Agua Caliente, is among the richest of those.
In 2004, the tribe poured millions of dollars into an unsuccessful ballot effort that would have given California tribes the right to unlimited gambling in their reservation casinos. The initiative would have lifted a cap of 2,000 slot machines per tribe and allowed them to offer Las Vegas-style games such as craps and roulette that are currently banned in California. In exchange, tribes would have paid an amount to the state equal to a corporate tax rate.
It was defeated by 76 percent of voters.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger fought the measure. At the time, he was negotiating with several California tribes to allow them to operate casinos in exchange for a larger share of their profits than current casino-operating tribes are paying.
In Washington, legislators already are contemplating reforms to lobbying ethics rules. Those changes are expected to be among the first measures taken up when Congress reconvenes.
Tribal leaders also are worried about pending legislation from Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, that could increase federal oversight of Indian casinos.
California Nations Indian Gaming Association Chairman Anthony Miranda told delegates they must fight to maintain their hard-won sovereignty. He said the Abramoff scandal reminds tribes that they should push their own agenda, rather than hire high-paid lawyers to do it for them.
"Now it is vital that tribal members themselves be the ones to walk the halls of Congress themselves and not send representatives," Miranda said, to loud applause.
He also called on Schwarzenegger to include tribal governments in his plan to spend $222.6 billion on public works improvements in California over the next 20 years.
"He also called on Schwarzenegger to include tribal governments in his plan to spend $222.6 billion on public works improvements in California over the next 20 years."
I love that one. How about the tribes paying some corporate tax like every other business in California does.
He seems to forget that they are a "sovereign" nation.
Agua Caliente means 'hot water', which is appropriate, 'cause that's what Abramoff is in.
Along the same lines, check out the really good(I can`t believe I said that) four part series on the United Farm Workers and what has been happening with them in the LA Times.
Thanks for the heads up.
The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians has about 200 members or so. Being a member of this tribe is sort of like winning a lottery ticket.
"Richard Milanovich, chairman of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians..."
Milanovich = ancient native American surname, dating perhaps to the Siberian Bridge crossing?
Bump
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