The Desert Rat: Approve Agua Caliente compact

Thursday, August 24, 2006  

"The gaming compact brokered by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians made its way through the State Senate earlier this week by a vote of 22-7. Now we're waiting on the Assembly, which could vote on the issue as early as next Thursday.

In addition to allowing construction of a third casino in the Coachella Valley, the deal would also allow the tribe to operate 5,000 slot machines instead of the 2,000 it now has.

The tribe may be trying to get this taken care of quickly, but if you ask this Rat, it should be the state, with all its woes regarding the budget deficit, that should be trying to get this thing on a faster track.

Sure, the Rat thinks we should stop and think a little before letting another casino into the valley, but if the ones that are already here want more slot machines, why not let them?"

Get the Story:
John LaConte: Let's hear the cha-ching of more slots here (The Desert Post Weekly 8/24)