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Senator goes to bat for tribes

Monday, March 29, 2004 | 11:19 a.m.

SACRAMENTO -- A state senator who received $1.3 million in campaign money from tribes sent out two million letters asking voters to support a proposed initiative that would expand gambling.

Republican Sen. Jim Battin of Palm Desert, in mailers bearing his letterhead, urged voters to sign a petition to place an initiative proposed by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians on the November ballot.

The Palm Springs tribe's initiative was proposed in response to demands by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that tribes with casinos pay more revenues to the state. Under the initiative, tribes would pay as much as corporations -- but only if they can operate roulette and craps, games prohibited under current state law.

To qualify for the November ballot, the tribe must submit nearly 600,000 valid signatures of registered voters to the state by April 16.

Battin has received $1.3 million since 1998 from tribes with casinos, including at least $363,080 from Agua Caliente. He said the money didn't influence his decision to support the initiative.

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