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Morongo compact passes senate

SACRAMENTO, California – (PRESS RELEASE) -- Today, the California State Senate overwhelmingly passed Senate Bill 174, moving the amended Morongo compact one step closer to ratification.

"I would like to thank Senator Perata, Senator Ackerman, and Senator Ducheny for their bipartisan leadership in passing the compact. The revenue from the Indian compacts will help balance the budget, improve education and provide quality healthcare for those who need it most. I urge the Assembly leadership to follow the Senate's lead so that California can begin to receive this much needed revenue," said Robert Martin, Tribal Council Chairman of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians.

Governor Schwarzenegger praised the Senate vote saying, "I applaud the Senate for approving the compacts I negotiated in good faith with these sovereign nations. I believe these compacts are good for the state, the tribes and the local communities. While each compact is unique, we have been able to enhance collaboration between local governments, mitigate environmental impacts and generate significant revenue for the state.

Schwarzenegger urged the Assembly to "quickly adopt these compacts which will bring in hundreds of millions of dollars to the state in funds for education, health care and public safety. Every additional day of delay costs the state millions of dollars for critical services that Californians rely upon."

Without adding a single machine, Martin pointed out, the state will receive $37 million just for the machines that are already operating in the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa. He said that his tribe has the capacity and the market demand to begin installing new machines that will generate additional revenues for the state immediately.

"It is an honor to have been able to assist the Morongo Band of Mission Indians in achieving Senate ratification of their amended compact today. The legislature's role is to approve or deny the agreement reached between the tribe and the Executive Branch. The compact is the product of lengthy negotiation and significant compromise between the tribe and the Administration. The Morongo people have been good neighbors to my constituents in the Coachella Valley and I am pleased to support their continued economic development, as it benefits both the tribe and the surrounding desert communities," said State Senator Denise Ducheny (D-San Diego).

Speaking today from the floor of the Senate, Ducheny addressed those who claimed the compact has no worker protections, "This compact has the Tribal Labor Relations Ordinance -- negotiated in 1999 by Senate President Pro tem John Burton and the major unions.

"It includes grievance procedures, personnel policies and ordinances that allow appeals to the state process. All the worker protections that exist throughout the country are embodied in this compact."

"Every day that goes by without ratification of the five gaming compacts is costing the state's taxpayers at least a million dollars," said Martin. "With all the problems that need immediate solutions like healthcare, education, prison reform and infrastructure funding, this is not just an issue of importance to Indians. Everyone who lives in California has a stake in making sure these compacts are approved."

Republican Leader Senator Dick Ackerman said, "The ratification of these compacts by the State Senate puts us one step closer to receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue for the State's general fund. These compacts are a key part of being able to balance the budget. I urge colleagues in the Assembly to quickly pass the compacts so that the new revenue can begin flowing into the treasury."

"We call upon the State Assembly to make the same responsible decision that the Governor and the State Senate have already made and ratify the gaming compact for the Morongo Band of Mission Indians," said Martin.

State Senator Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch) pointed out that the "money generated from the compacts would "be a help to our schools."

Both the Riverside County Board of Supervisors and the City of Banning have pledged their support for the ratification of Morongo's gaming compact.

According to the resolution passed unanimously by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, "The Morongo Band of Mission Indians has been a major factor in the prosperity of the Banning Pass area through gaming and investment in economic development projects." In addition to commending the Morongo Tribal Council for its generosity in supporting the community and its attention to environmental concerns, the supervisors' resolution also points out, "The Morongo tribal council consistently seeks the advice of community leaders on issues of public interest."

In addition, a letter from the City of Banning sent to state legislators stated, "Our city council is proud to unanimously support (the legislation) to ratify the tribal-state compact recently negotiated."

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