Editorial: Obama's short-sighted view on gaming compacts

Monday, June 6, 2011  

"The Obama administration has sided with a California Indian tribe in a case with significant ramifications for the future of tribe-owned casinos and the state's authority to oversee those operations.

It's a shortsighted stand that is not in California's best interests.

Obama's solicitor general submitted a brief urging that the U.S. Supreme Court not review a lower court decision siding with a San Diego-area tribe, the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians. Rincon sued, claiming that the Schwarzenegger administration overreached when it agreed to grant the tribe more slot machines so long as the tribe would pay what amounted to a tax into the state's general fund.

In a 2-1 decision, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year sided with Rincon, concluding that federal law does not permit the state to levy such fees, even though the state grants tribes the exclusive rights to operate slot machines in California."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Obama takes a short-sighted view of casinos (The Sacramento Bee 6/4)

9th Circuit Decision:
Rincon Band v. Schwarzenegger (April 20, 2010)

Related Stories:
DOJ submits brief to Supreme Court in Rincon gaming case (5/25)
Rincon Band compact case still pending at Supreme Court (5/23)
Supreme Court asks DOJ for views in Rincon Band compact case (12/14)