Indians to submit gambling signatures

Tuesday, Sept. 7, 1999 | 10:13 a.m.

The move comes as Gov. Gray Davis resumes negotiations with Indian leaders on the future of tribal gambling, and with time running out for state lawmakers to approve their own constitutional amendment before the legislative session draws to a close Friday.

In another development, a citizens' group opposed to Indian gambling, "Stand Up for California," plans today to demonstrate in front of the federal courthouse in Sacramento, calling for a federal grand jury investigation of millions of dollars in donations to state politicians by tribes involved in illegal gambling.

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians of Palm Springs says it must turn in its signatures to the secretary of state for verification by Friday or miss its deadline for reaching the statewide ballot in March.

Leaders said the action may also put pressure on state officials to offer an acceptable deal.

"I think it will help to bring about a decision on the part of the state officials that we are quite serious about having a fair and equitable solution that we can live with," said Agua Caliente Chairman Richard Milanovich on Monday as leaders of dozens of tribes gathered at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Sacramento.

Milanovich was among hundreds of leaders from nearly 70 tribes who were deeply disappointed last week by Davis' proposal for how to legalize and regulate Indian gambling.

The Agua Caliente is one of 10 tribes in Southern California facing renewed pressure from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles, which has notified them that they must cease casino gambling on Oct. 13 unless they forge compacts with Davis.

A stay on federal enforcement action will expire on that date because of the state Supreme Court's ruling last month that invalidated Proposition 5 and declared the tribes' current gambling operations illegal.

Considering the depth of discord over the few elements of Davis' plan that were even discussed, Milanovich held out little hope for a resolution this week.

So far, negotiations have been stymied over Davis' efforts to limit the numbers of slot machines and to extract revenue from tribal gambling.

As of Monday, Milanovich said his tribe had collected at least 1.1 million signatures for its latest initiative, likely more than enough to qualify.

Attorney General Bill Lockyer has warned the initiative may have constitutional problems.

Davis has said he wants the Legislature to put an alternative amendment before voters, but only if tribes agree to curtail the expansion of gambling - particularly slot machines, the most lucrative feature of Indian casinos.

The state's 41 gambling tribes - who reported generating 1997 earnings of $1.5 billion - spent at least $67.5 million to pass Proposition 5 to legalize their machines, and received 63 percent approval from voters.

The Agua Caliente's latest initiative would simply reinstate Proposition 5, allowing tribes only the forms of gambling they now offer.

It would not limit casino expansion.

Some tribes worry that the Agua Caliente strategy may doom the chances of the state's 106 other federally recognized tribes to reach agreement with Davis to legalize Indian gambling.