GOP legislative leaders are calling for an inquiry into the gaming compact in question given the confluence between Christine Gregoire's actions as Governor and the obvious influx of tribal political contributions:
- Why, while intervening in negotiations, did the governor turn away hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue sharing when her own Gambling Commission and the Spokane Tribe had already reached agreement on such a plan?- What were the communications between the governor and staff and the Spokane Tribe between 2005 and 2006 that led to the elimination of revenue sharing?
- Which tribes, if any, requested that the governor's office step in to strike revenue sharing from the tribal compact?
- Were there promises of campaign support, or other inducements, made by the tribes to any representatives of the governor, including party officials, in exchange for the governor's action to drop state revenue sharing, while expanding the authorization for slots, higher stakes wagering and off-reservation gaming sites?
- What was the state's estimate of annual revenue that would have come to the state had Gregoire approved the original Gambling Commission compact with the Spokane Tribe, which included revenue sharing?
In the politically charged environment of an election year, those questions pertaining to the loss of revenue sharing from the original agreement that Gregoire insisted by thrown out remain highly relevant.
Moreover, note that the Governor supposedly "renegotiated the 2005 agreement that included revenue sharing in an attempt to keep gambling from expanding too quickly." That's an interesting notion, but I challenge the Governor's office to produce statistics to show that gaming, tribal and otherwise, has done anything but expand at a brisk pace in Washington state since that time.
The general public certainly isn't going to have the impression gaming expansion has been restrained in recent years based on readily available knowledge - including copious advertising - of expanded casino operations.
And all this doesn't even touch on the separate and more controversial issue of the merits of the state's broader involvement in gambling. The point is that this compact, with all the questionable ethics involved, probably didn't even meet its policy goals - even if it could pass a basic smell test to begin with, which it most obviously cannot.
Posted by Eric Earling at June 17, 2008 07:41 AM | Email ThisI have looked at the Tribe donations and boy, oh boy, are they ever clever. They are years late filing and you never can figure out how to look up the donations. For example, in local legislative races, tribes from all over the country donate. Why is that?
If the Rs are smart (and if they were, the research would already have been done), they would parade out all the foreign nation donations the tribe makes to influence US politics.
Posted by: swatter on June 17, 2008 07:54 AMWhere is Goldy on the massive expansion of Tribal Gambling under Gregoire? Stunningly silent. If gambling is so bad, why isn't Goldy calling Gregoire out for her big Tribal present from the state of WA?
Rossi can (and probably/hopefully will) use this (and much much more) when it counts: when summer is gone and the majority of voters are actually paying attention.
Posted by: Ragnar Danneskjold on June 17, 2008 10:40 AMhttp://washingtonvotes.org/2006-SB-6613
Posted by: Marx on June 17, 2008 10:40 AMThe second step is to get involved in the new party (Republicans) and influence them and stay on top of it. No new Taxes, No stupid regulations, investigate questionable funding i.e. gambling money. Give the state auditor teeth to require a change instead of using harsh language. No regulations regarding the Global Warming Hoax etc.... etc....etc....
This is how we can change things around here. We write to those who we support (Not Democrats) and give them a piece of our mind. Dems are sold out to socialism and they will do anything to insure its rise in this country and they will steel and lie to keep their monopoly in this state. INDEPENDENTS stop voting for them or don't vote.
Posted by: TruePatriot on June 17, 2008 11:03 AMBut Marxists like Gregoire will take funny money from anyone as long as it helps advance their cause of Progressive, Statist control.
Posted by: Jeff B. on June 17, 2008 11:39 AMRe the Indians: I'd be interested in seeing exactly how much they have contributed to the local communities (in lieu of giving revenue to the state) in the past five years. I'll bet it doesn't begin to cover the expenses of the fire & police protection, utilities, roads, social services,etc. caused by the casinos & the reservations, let alone the funds earmarked for Indian health care, education & other benefits they enjoy from being in the US.
Posted by: CleanHouse on June 17, 2008 12:01 PMWhile we are looking, we should look at the Tribe, Prentice, Gov. and the racing commission too!!!
Too bad we do not have a candidate for governor that is proposing cutting back the power of government here in Washington.
Posted by: Lysander on June 17, 2008 05:33 PMNot quite buying that. Shoudn't be any surprise that the tribes are contributing big to any D. Revenue sharing is not and was not part of any of the 26 previous compacts, and there was no real ruckus when this one didn't. All heat, no fire.
Posted by: jtolympia on June 18, 2008 10:27 AMNot quite buying that. Shoudn't be any surprise that the tribes are contributing big to any D. Revenue sharing is not and was not part of any of the 26 previous compacts, and there was no real ruckus when this one didn't. All heat, no fire.
Posted by: jtolympia on June 18, 2008 10:27 AM