Tribal leaders fire back at Schwarzenegger over 'fair share' ad

San Diego Union - Tribune ^ | 9/25/03 | AP - Riverside

[NormsRevenge]

RIVERSIDE --- Tribal leaders, stung by Arnold Schwarzenegger's criticism of their financial support for his political rivals, said the gubernatorial candidate got it wrong, that they do their fair share to help California's economy.

"He needs to do his homework. This is all new to him," said Michael Lombardi, chairman of the gaming commission for the Augustine Casino near Coachella. "We are paying our fair share."

In an ad criticizing other candidates for taking money from Indian gambling interests, Schwarzenegger says of the tribes: "Their casinos make billions, yet pay no taxes and virtually nothing to the state. ... It's time for them to pay their fair share."

As sovereign governments, tribes do not pay taxes and they pay nothing into the state's general fund. They do pay about $130 million a year to two special funds, however, one for tribes without casinos and one to address the impact of casinos on state and local governments.

By not mentioning the two funds, Schwarzenegger's ad "falsely states that tribes pay virtually nothing," said Waltona Manion, a spokeswoman for the Morongo Band of Mission Indians near Cabazon.

Schwarzenegger campaign spokesman Todd Harris defended the ad.

"What all voters and all tribes should understand is that Arnold Schwarzenegger respects tribal sovereignty and that he is not attempting to interfere with the Indians' rights to operate casinos, but that he is going to seek fair and equitable ways ... to allow for all Californians to help the state, particularly during tough budget times," Harris said.

[NormsRevenge]

Don't mess with the Indians, Arnold.

I don't think Arnold ever made a Western, huh?

[NormsRevenge]

.

[martin_fierro]

I don't think Arnold ever made a Western, huh?

Well, sort of.

[Enterprise]

Arnold may have a winning argument with college students, and McClintock might also with the Indian Tribes issue. My son watched the debate and Schwarzenneger got his attention when Arnold talked about the money the Indians get, but yet they don't pay taxes. He said it was ridiculous that the Indians get free money, and FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION, while everyone else has to work hard for it. With the huge increase in student fees, I think the first candidate out of the block who points out the disparity of opportunity for Indians vs people who have to work hard to pay for an education would be a winner and gain a lot of student votes.

[NormsRevenge]

Chumash Tribe Lashes Out at Schwarzenegger Over Ad LA Times Recall Notebook

Excerpt from second LA Times article, see bottom article.

Schwarzenegger Ally Hired by Casino Firm

Bonnie Reiss, a longtime aide to Arnold Schwarzenegger, has been named to the board of directors of a company that owns several casinos in Nevada and has a major interest in the Hollywood Park card club.

Reiss' connection with Pinnacle Entertainment could provide a line of attack for Schwarzenegger's political rivals. The candidate has been attacking Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante and state Sen. Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) over the campaign contributions they receive from Indian tribes that run casinos.

Pinnacle's casinos and card clubs compete with the tribal casinos for gambling business.

[NormsRevenge]

LOL...Thanks.

I rest my case. ;-P

[SF Republican]

Michael Lombardi, chairman of the gaming commission for the Augustine Casino near Coachella I grew up in the southwest and I worked a great deal with Indians in my Order of the Arrow group of the Boys Scouts. I ain't never met an indian named Lombardi

[EggsAckley]

Ping!





Foggy mornin' to ya, Norm!

[My2Cents]

They're on the warpath.

You know, I heard a conversation today on the radio with a reporter who has followed this court decision that Cruz's campaign illegally shifted Indian gaming funds from one campaign committee to another to circumvent recent changes in the campaign finance laws. I don't think this has gotten enough play in the press (why should I be surprised). Cruz's campaign is clearly engaged in ILLEGAL practices. This surpasses even Gray Davis on the sleaze factor. While Davis is unethical, I don't think he ever did anything illegal. Cruz-with-the-Booze is illegal.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

[kingu]

Arnold may have a winning argument with college students, and McClintock might also with the Indian Tribes issue. My son watched the debate and Schwarzenneger got his attention when Arnold talked about the money the Indians get, but yet they don't pay taxes. He said it was ridiculous that the Indians get free money, and FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION, while everyone else has to work hard for it. With the huge increase in student fees, I think the first candidate out of the block who points out the disparity of opportunity for Indians vs people who have to work hard to pay for an education would be a winner and gain a lot of student votes.

American Indians do not pay federal or state taxes on money earned from tribal enterprises on their tribal land. That money can only be taxed by the tribe. American Indians do not get free college education.. Many tribes who have successful enterprises now pay for their tribal members to go to college, as well as others, such as employees and their dependants. Indians do not get free money. Poor people everywhere qualify for financial aide, and that describes the majority of American Indians.

However, some point to treaty commitments as being free money. I assume that you make payments on your house. You made a contractual agreement with someone to make payments, and you do so not only to keep your house, but because it is right. The United States made many treaty agreements where the tribes were to be paid continually for land that they gave up. This is 'free'?

I'm all for re-negociating the compacts. I told the tribes that getting involed in this recall was stupid and would come to haunt them, and I'm being proved right. They've demonstrated to California that there are many tribes that have just way too much money sitting around, and made a target of themselves. And when they scream bloody murder, people are going to just laugh in their faces.

[kingu]

I grew up in the southwest and I worked a great deal with Indians in my Order of the Arrow group of the Boys Scouts. I ain't never met an indian named Lombardi

What, he's supposed to be 'BlueSkyChief?' His name isn't Indian enough for you? I suppose Wilcox isn't either, though it is a name shared by many tribal members in Northern California.

[kingu]

Didn't Arnold take money from the tribes to support his government-nanny ballot initiative last year in which he advocated confiscating money from hard working tax payers to provide free after school care?

I'm sure that the proposition committee accepted funds from all sources, including Indian tribes. Did Arnold know about these donations? Who knows.

[Afronaut]

Yea Atlantic city has wiped out our school tax here in NJ. Along with the state Lottery <----- yea sure.......

[kingu]

By not mentioning the two funds, Schwarzenegger's ad "falsely states that tribes pay virtually nothing," said Waltona Manion, a spokeswoman for the Morongo Band of Mission Indians near Cabazon.

Hmm. 120 something million that mostly goes to other tribes (non-gaming) with random left-overs for counties who have to deal with a thousand percent increase in traffic going to rural casinos who are pumping water out of the ground faster than anything can replenish it. Yeah, Waltona, I'll call that nothing.

Waltona Manion was the woman who was almost single-handedly responsible for making the tribes into a political force for the Democrats. Her constant advocation of 'Putting tribal dollars to work for the tribe' via political contributions is what has lead to the present backlash against the tribes. Once the memo surfaced (and we all knew that would happen) the tribes became a legitimate target. People are going to start to question why three people counts as a tribe, or why 29 people make nearly 200 million dollars a year, or why a chairman who earns more than a million dollars a year (in salary) plus tribal distributions (nearly half a million) has to skirt the law and 'purchase' a luxury car on the reservation to avoid paying taxes.

Go Arnold - 'bout time someone takes them on.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

At least somebody was sensible enough not to name him Giuseppe, Vincenzo, Luigi, or Guido - Chief Vito Redfeather was sure to carefully select all his capos, er, warrior braves.....

[annyokie]

We have an Indian named O'Leary running for Tribal Council here.

[Republicus2001]

Although our Lt. Governor Bustamonte SWORE AN OATH to uphold our government he still SUPPORTS MECHA and THE VIOLENT OVERTHROW OF CALIFORNIA