Those that are opposed to the Aqua Caliente Tribe’s compact that will bring in 3,000 more slot machines and another casino, called it a kind of victory this week when the Senate barely passed the compact on to the Legislature. They felt that by passing it by such a small margin, there was hope that it would not be ratified. Several of its opponents are state senators, who voted against the slot machine increase, feeling that if anyone were to get it, it should not be this tribe. 

Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) voted against it as she feels that  if slot machines are going to go to anyone, it should be a tribe that really needs it – not one already doing as well as the Aqua Caliente’s are.  "I don't think that these few million dollars make a dent in our budget or budget deficit," she said. “I'm sure it would be good economically for the state if we all grew marijuana and sold it, but we don't…we have our reasons not to. I feel the same way about gambling." 

But those that support the tribe think that approval of the slot machines is the least that they could do. State Senator Nell Soto (D-Pomona) said that she felt the mistreatment that the tribes have suffered over the years was more than enough reason to vote for it. Others think that the economic structure of the deal is going to be so great for the state, how could you not vote for it? Senator Jim Battin (R-La Quinta) said that the market will show how many slot machines it can handle, and that it wasn’t their job to cap it.

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