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www.sfgate.com Boxer, Fong Want Gaming Pact
Political rivals would like Wilson to cut deal with tribes
Thursday, June 12, 1998
©1998 San Francisco ChronicleURL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1998/06/12/MN82764.DTL
Jumping quickly on an issue that will play a big role in the fall election campaign, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and her Republican challenger, Matt Fong, each want Governor Pete Wilson to negotiate gambling compacts with Indian tribes.
In Washington, Boxer said gambling provides crucial economic support to the reservations.
``For years, (the Indians) were told, `Pick yourselves up and take care of your people,' '' Boxer said.
``Now they're taking care of their people and they're helping communities, and Governor Wilson is going to shut them down. It's very sad. It's wrong.''
In Sacramento, Fong, through a spokesman, stopped short of denouncing Wilson's policy, but said the compacts should reflect tribal autonomy.
Fong said he is against unlimited gambling in California, but recognizes that Indians are members of sovereign nations and have the right to have gambling on their lands.
U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno met Wednesday in Washington, D.C., with representatives of more than 100 California Indian tribes. The tribes asked Reno to intervene in their dispute with Wilson over the $500 million-a-year Indian gambling industry's fight to keep video slot machines and other lucrative casino-style gambling games -- such as roulette and banked blackjack -- at their reservation casinos.
At least 16 tribes have sued the state over the issue; many of the remaining two-dozen tribes are considering it.
Federal law allows the governor to negotiate compacts with tribes that determine the kinds of gambling that can take place on the reservations.
The tribes contend that the governor seeks unfair restrictions on their operations. The Wilson administration says the Indians are illegally operating thousands of video slot machines in defiance of federal and state law.
Federal prosecutors in California agree, but have not yet seized equipment. But court hearings on the issue are scheduled. On July 13 in Fresno, federal prosecutors for the state's Eastern District will present arguments in U.S. District Court to crack down on the allegedly illicit gambling.
So far, Wilson has reached agreement with one tribe to allow gaming in a high-speed version of a lottery game.