California tribes "must report their contributions to political campaigns just like anyone else," The North County Times says in an editorial.

The paper says a court ruling waiving tribal immunity in a political donations lawsuit is "a good decision, particularly in an election year." An appeals court in the state said tribes are subject to state campaign finance laws.

"Tribes have become powerful political players in California, and we congratulate them for it," the paper says. "But Indian tribes are not free of the same lures of corruption that occur off the reservations. There is simply no good reason to permit secret slush funds in political campaigns."

Get the Story:
Our View: Tribes must play by rules (The North County Times 3/10)

Get the Decision:
Agua Caliente Band v. FPPC (March 3, 2004)

Relevant Links:
Fair Political Practices Commission - http://www.fppc.ca.gov

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Court rulings on campaign donations in conflict (4/28)
Calif. tribe appeals campaign donation suit (03/06)
Editorial: State sovereignty was under attack (3/4)
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