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LOS ANGELES (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger may have beaten back ballot measures aimed at expanding gambling in California, but he hasn't succeeded in striking deals with a majority of casino-owning American Indian tribes to share revenue. After the divisive election, the governor and tribes remain in a standoff, with neither side willing to be the first to head to the bargaining table. The tribes are still bitter over Schwarzenegger's campaign remarks that they were "ripping off" the state. Their demand for an apology has gone unanswered. "Let them come to me and negotiate," Schwarzenegger said soon after the election,...

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Fresh off a high-profile campaign trip to Ohio for President Bush, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger returned to California for a final weekend of campaigning before Tuesday's election. The governor began a two-day bus tour of the state Saturday by speaking out about several of the 16 initiatives on the California ballot. He drew some of the most emotional responses when criticizing Proposition 66, an initiative that seeks to amend the state's "three-strikes" sentencing law. Critics of the initiative said it would allow thousands of violent offenders to be freed from the state prison system. "Proposition 66 is...

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, under fire from American Indians for telling voters that tribes were "ripping off" the state with their casinos, refused on Friday to back down. Schwarzenegger has invoked the "rip off" theme as he campaigns against a Nov. 2 ballot measure, called Proposition 70, that would permit rapid expansion of Indian casinos in California and side-step the governor's effort to manage them. "Read my lips: The Indian gaming tribes behind Proposition 70 are trying to rip off California. I will say it again and again and again," a defiant Schwarzenegger said in Los...

SACRAMENTO – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has made improving the state's business climate a top priority, but he has not done the same for two business-related measures on the Nov. 2 ballot. The governor has been putting most of his effort into defeating two Indian gaming initiatives that are far behind in the polls, while the business community is hoping for come-from-behind victories on two other measures. One of the measures would curb certain kinds of lawsuits filed against small businesses, and the other would require some businesses to provide health insurance for their employees. A consumer advocate whose group has...

SANTA YNEZ, Calif. — Gilbert Cash would have no chance of working as a blackjack dealer at one of the major hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. The reason: Cash has filed for personal bankruptcy four times and failed to pay about $60,000 in income taxes. He also is awaiting trial on charges of choking and beating his estranged wife — allegations he denies. http://www.latimes.com/news/yahoo/la-me-chumash19oct19,1,6605413.story

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has a warning for state voters: "The Indians are ripping us off." Schwarzenegger has taken up the line to convince them to reject a tribe-backed initiative on the Nov. 2 ballot that would allow rapid expansion of American Indian casinos in the nation's most populous state and derail the governor's own effort to manage casino growth. Some critics say the governor is going too far with his campaign -- tapping a deep vein of hostility that dates back to the settlers' conquest of the U.S. West. "His statement touches on racism," said...

McClintock on the Propositions I've been getting a lot of calls about the various ballot propositions. Here's how I see them: 1A. Watered Down Protection for Local Governments. YES, I suppose. Extends limited protection to local governments against future raids by the state AFTER the state finishes ripping off another $2.6 billion over the next two years. I support it because the protections are a slight improvement over existing law, but if you really want to protect local governments, Prop. 65 is the ticket. 59. Public Records, Open Meetings. YES. Louis Brandeis said it best: "Sunlight is the best of...

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is riding another winner in his opposition to two measures on next month's ballot that would expand gambling while requiring Indian tribes to give up some of their profits, a nonpartisan poll released Saturday shows. Voters oppose both initiatives, according to the Field Poll conducted before Proposition 68 proponents ended their drive Wednesday with an admission they had little chance of success. Schwarzenegger began campaigning against propositions 68 and 70 this week, saying that either one would undermine his efforts to negotiate new gambling agreements with individual tribes. He has signed pacts with 10...

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...

A November ballot measure that would greatly expand Indian casino gambling received a boost Thursday from two taxpayer advocacy groups -- and opponents promptly countered with a taxpayer group of their own. At a Sacramento hotel news conference, leaders of the taxpayer groups said they were backing Proposition 70 because it would provide revenues for the cash-strapped state without digging to deeply into the tribes' pockets. "We think it's a good deal, a fair deal, all around," said Lewis Uhler, president of the National Tax-Limitation Committee. "The core principle of Proposition 70 is that gaming tribes will contribute to the...