[Chad Fairbanks]

That's the part I don't understand - other states negotiated for and got those fees and such - why didn't California? Was it incompetence? Politics?

That is the question that needs answering... :0)

[DoughtyOne]

Well that is the question isn't it. There's the possibility of incompetence or even the idea this is fluid in the states as the issue becomes more fleshed out. Courts have rules no income taxes can be levied, but states are free to negotiate compacs that see revenues realized none-the-less. I'm not sure if agreements that have been arranged in other states were pre or post our own compacts.

[kingu]

That's the part I don't understand - other states negotiated for and got those fees and such - why didn't California? Was it incompetence? Politics? That is the question that needs answering... :0)

Prop 5 included into the state constitution a model compact, written by the tribes, that basically enumerated every detail. A couple concessions were made to the governor who then signed compacts with the tribes. Who did it? The people of California who voted for Prop 5. So politics is the answer to your question. The tribes want to get more machines, tribes that weren't party to the first compacts want compacts as well, so everything now goes on the table.

Davis basically sent out his terms and told the tribes to take it or leave it, without sitting down to negociate. It was typical Davis management - since the issue hadn't passed the point of critical problem, it got put on the back burner so that he could attend more fundraisers.