Governor, tribe still at odds over video lottery

Deb Gruszecki and Jake Henshaw

Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004 | 9:26 a.m.

SACRAMENTO -- A second meeting Monday to resolve a dispute over the controversial video lottery terminals of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians has failed to end a logjam between the governor and the tribe.

The governor's legal affairs secretary, Peter Siggins, and Morongo tribal attorney George Forman said Monday they exchanged ideas that each side will consider separately.

"But there are a couple of things we are thinking about that we think would give us the ability to get the dispute resolved over the legality of the games," Siggins said.

The two sides are scheduled to meet again Monday in Sacramento.

"I think it's fair to say both sides are optimistic that there will be a satisfactory resolution," Forman said. "Whether there will be or not remains to be seen."

Siggins and other state attorneys also met with leaders of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians in Ontario last week over the same issue and failed to reach resolution over the dispute.

Pechanga tribal chairman Mark Macarro said after the talks that the tribe is honoring terms of its state compact.

"We maintain our position that Pechanga's right to offer a lottery is guaranteed under the compact, and the state's challenge to our right to do that is without merit," Macro said. "Our lottery games are legal and authorized under the tribal-state compact."