Free Republic

A Native American tribe in California whose leaders aggressively back Democrat candidates has raked in millions of taxpayer dollars for needy families while operating a lucrative casino, a watchdog found. The American Accountability Foundation released a report Tuesday, first shared with The Daily Wire, revealing that the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians has taken $28 million in federal grant funding since 1996 while operating one of the largest casinos in the country. The bulk of the money, roughly $27 million, has come since 2008, six years after the casino opened. “The Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians has been quietly raking...

Times are tough right now and good jobs are hard to come by for many Californians. Rather than considering bad legislation like Assembly Bill 742 that stifles private investment, business and employment, California State Legislators should be doing everything they can to enact policies that create jobs and encourage new, private investment in our economy. Several influential labor groups have joined business and local government to urge legislators to reject this special interest bill, was introduced at the last minute solely to kill an important new aggregate production project in Riverside County on behalf of the wealthy and politically influential...

In another sign of the flagging economy, Pechanga Resort and Casino said yesterday that it plans to lay off more than 8 percent of its work force, or roughly 400 of its nearly 4,800 employees. The layoffs, to begin at a date still to be determined, will be the first in the 13-year history of the Temecula casino, which ranks among the biggest and most successful in the nation. With the move, Pechanga joins a number of Indian casinos in San Diego County and elsewhere that have trimmed their work force as attendance begins to reflect growing unemployment and soaring...

TEMECULA – The popular Eagle's Nest and Silk nightclubs in the Pechanga Resort & Casino have been shut down by the tribe because of alcohol-related problems. Pechanga spokeswoman Amy Minniear says “tribal leaders have determined that an unacceptable number of incidents involving alcohol consumption” have occurred at the Temecula complex. Details about the offensive incidents haven't been disclosed. The tribe also hasn't said what will be done with those nightclubs, saying only on its Web site that, “We are working on improving the overall Pechanga experience.” The Silk nightclub attracted up to 3,000 guests each night.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Setting up a likely court battle, one of two Southern California tribes accused by the state of illegally operating machines that look and feel like slot machines on Wednesday refused to remove them from its casino floor. Mark Macarro, chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians, said the tribe will sue Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration if it attempts to restrict the tribe from operating the machines. He said they are permitted under the current gambling agreements. "The governor's office will have to realize they're in error and back off or we're continue to fight...