CA Tribes Like Pechanga, Not Buying As Many Politicians This Year

The Press Enterprise reports that the Big 4 tribes: San Manuel, Morongo, Agua Caliente and pechanga aren't spending the money greasing the palms of local politicians this election cycle. Could it be that the money spent on the February propositions tapped out their political budget?

Word on the street is that Pechanga has been trying to get the other tribes to share some of their burden as they had to pay so much more in television ads trying to erase the STENCH of their betrayal of their tribal members. Pechanga spent about $50 million more than some of the other tribes, running an infomercial on local television filled with half truths.


The February ballot fight over casino-expansion agreements for the Morongo, Pechanga and Agua Caliente tribes and the Sycuan tribe in San Diego County burned through nearly $150 million. The three Inland tribes put up nearly $110 million of that, according to state records.
The casino business, meanwhile, has slowed. In July, the Pechanga casino laid off 400 workers because high gas prices and the struggling economy (NOT TO MENTION the negative publicity)were keeping customers away.

So, here is what has happened:

Two years ago, the region's wealthiest tribes -- the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in the Coachella Valley, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians near Banning, the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians near Temecula, and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians near Highland -- spent an average of $1.3 million each in direct contributions to state candidates, political parties and independent expenditures in the months leading up to the November 2006 election, according to state campaign-finance reports.
As of Friday, the four tribes had spent a fraction of that. Much of the money came only in the past day or two, less than a week before Election Day.

Why keep paying for someone when they are already in your pocket? And, has anyone checked to see HOW MUCH, Pechanga Spokesman Macarro has donated out of his OWN pocket? Politicians, if they don't contribute from their OWN wallets, that means they don't trust OR care about you.