California Counties Praise Governor and Tribes for Negotiating New Compact for California; Agreements Contain Key CSAC Policy Objectives for Indian Gaming.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Local government leaders praised today's signing of five new Indian gaming compacts, saying the agreements between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and select tribes will balance tribal governments' right to economic opportunity with local governments' responsibility to their constituents.

Yolo County Supervisor and Chair of the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Tribal Gaming Task Force Mike McGowan spoke alongside the Governor today at the signing ceremony.

"We commend the Governor for keeping his promise to Californians and including provisions in these compacts that ensure protection of the environment and consideration for the communities affected by Indian gaming," said McGowan.

The new compacts, which must now be ratified by the Legislature, represent a vast improvement over former compacts in that they give counties the ability to mitigate off-reservation impacts, provide services on tribal lands and protect affected communities.

CSAC has been at the forefront of the tribal gaming issue, convening the Tribal Gaming Task Force last year to examine ways in which the local government/tribal relationship could be improved.

Many of the policy objectives set forth by the CSAC group have been codified in the new compacts, including the provision that subjects gaming tribes who wish to undertake new projects to an environmental review. Compact tribes must now also negotiate agreements with affected communities on off-reservation mitigation and service responsibilities, including public safety. Such agreements are now subject to arbitration, and perhaps most importantly, are judicially enforceable.

"We applaud the Governor for taking seriously the concerns of local government in a way that respects both the citizens we serve and Tribal Governments," said McGowan. "On behalf of all 58 counties, we again thank the Governor for his efforts and promise to assist in ensuring the ratification of these compacts in the Legislature."

For more information on the CSAC Tribal Gaming Task Force and CSAC Tribal Gaming Policy Objectives, visit www.csac.counties.org/legislation/indian_gaming/index.html.