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California Indian Gaming Hearing Postponed

CALIFORNIA – (PRESS RELEASE) -- Jerome E. Horton, Chairman of the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee, postponed an informational hearing on Indian gaming citing a lack of participation from Governor Schwarzenegger's office as the reason for the cancellation. The informational hearing, set for this Thursday at UCLA, was intended to provide information on the laws governing Indian gaming, emphasizing the power and authorities of the three governmental bodies, the federal government, tribal governments and state government in the compacting process.

"This informational hearing was an opportunity to publicly discuss the legal, logical, and historical basis for Indian compacts and their impacts on California as prescribed by the concept of Democracy. The Governor's unwillingness to participate in the hearing may leave us no alternative but to invoke the subpoena powers of this committee for a later hearing," stated Horton.

High level officials from the federal government, elected tribal leaders, prominent academics, and Indian gaming legal experts were scheduled to speak at the hearing. Although the Governor's office is the State's sole representative in Indian gaming compact negotiations, the Governor refused to send his top advisors that have negotiated 14 Indian gaming agreements on behalf of the Governor.

"The Governor conducts his Indian gaming negotiations behind closed doors, which is a far cry from his campaign pledge to make government more accessible and open to the public," said Chairman Horton. "The Governor's presence at this hearing was critical and his absence left an enormous void that could not be overlooked. His disrespectful decision to not send his top advisors left me with no choice but to postpone the hearing," concluded Horton.

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