Editorial: Campaign finance laws applied equally

Monday, Jan. 13, 2003 | 8:54 a.m.

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, one of the wealthiest Indian tribes in California, operates two casinos in the Palm Springs area. The tribe also has grown more powerful politically in recent years because of its willingness to make generous campaign contributions, much in the same way that businesses and political action committees do. But, according to the state Fair Political Practices Commission, the tribe has failed to play by the rules in California. According to that state agency, which enforces campaign laws, the Agua Caliente band was late in disclosing that it made more than $8 million in contributions to candidates and ballot questions from 1998 to 2002. The tribes contend, however, that they're sovereignty exempts them from the control of state government, including limits and requirements for campaign contributions. The dispute be tween the state of California and the tribe is now before a Sacramento Superior Court judge, who listened to arguments in t! he case last week.

It's unquestioned that tribes maintain sovereignty on their land, and they shouldn't be restricted by the state in their own tribal elections, but trying to extend their sovereignty's reach into political donations for state elections is a stretch. For instance, just as tribal members would have to obey traffic laws when they're driving on state-maintained roads outside a reservation -- and be subject to state fines if they violate those laws -- they also should have to follow California's campaign finance laws in nontribal elections. If tribes are exempted from adhering to campaign finance requirements, it would create the potential for political mischief and, even, corruption.