Five California tribes with large casinos offered their own gaming proposal as lawmakers questioned new compacts signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R).

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Indians had made the pitch to state negotiators earlier this year. It involves an up-front payment of $1 billion to the state, plus 10 percent of the net win on new slot machines.

The state had rejected the proposal because it didn't address non-financial aspects, the top negotiator said. Compacts that Schwarzenegger signed last week include provisions affecting environmental, labor, local government and other issues.

Those deals are being debated by lawmakers, some of whom questioned the expansion of gaming authorized by the compacts. The objections aren't expected to derail the compacts, though.

Get the Story:
Tribal gambling deals pushed (The San Jose Mercury News 6/30
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5 tribes unveil proposal on slots, revenue (The Sacramento Bee 7/1)
Tribe makes gaming proposal public (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 7/1)
Gaming deals draw some critics (Copley News Service 7/1)
Governor's Allies Turn Budget Foes (The Los Angeles Times 7/1)
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