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No More Money for California's Gambling Commission

SACRAMENTO, California – As reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune: "Democrats who control the state Legislature say they have offered Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger most of what he asked for in a new state budget. But they cut a little deeper in one area than even the Republican governor wanted.

"The state's beleaguered gambling commission, a scrappy band of 48 employees, would not receive any reinforcements under the spending plan. Schwarzenegger initially asked to double the commission's staff. He later lopped the request in half in the face of stiff, bipartisan opposition.

"With the 2005-2006 budget still pending and the Legislature in session for three more months, the administration hasn't given up its quest to bolster the commission. But the situation has magnified a dispute over the commission's push to set up its own lab to test tribal slot machines.

"…In December, before Schwarzenegger had unveiled his plan to significantly increase its staff, the commission awarded a contract to a Michigan firm to assist with development of its slot-testing program.

"…An Assembly budget committee eliminated all of the added staffing for the commission…"

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