The Chukchansi Economic Development Authority, the business and political arm of the the Chukchansi Gold tribal casino in Coarsegold, showered Valley lawmakers with more than $600 in gifts this year, according to recent state filings.
The tribe gave Assembly GOP leader Mike Villines a $138 gift basket and paid for food, drink and dinners for Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter (100 miles away!), Assembly members Tom Berryhill, R-Modesto, Connie Conway, R-Tulare, and termed-out Assembly member Nicole Parra, a Hanford Democrat.
The tribe, which opposes a casino proposed by the neighboring North Fork tribe in Madera County, is emerging as a political power player in Sacramento. Gee, that's enough to make me want to support it.
The tribe contributed $15,800 to legislative candidates in the last half of last year. And the tribe is the funding force behind the "San Joaquin Valley Leadership PAC," which last year spent $85,686 on campaign donations and independent expenditures for candidates.
The tribe gambled and won on three of four candidates it spent money on. Its losing bet? Assembly candidate Fran Florez, a Democrat, who lost to Hanford Republican Danny Gilmore. The tribe spent $32,200 on her. Isn't there a LIMIT?
Florez is the mother of state Sen. Florez, who until this year oversaw a committee with jurisdiction over gaming issues. Florez opposes the North Fork casino proposal. YA THINK? Wouldn't want the cashcow to not be happy, right Fran?
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1 comment:
Can you imagine how much Pechanga throws at the politicians?..if they are giving themselves around 30 to 40 million a month in per capita checks...you know they are handing out millions to politicians and now you see Magic Johnson doing commercials for San Manuel....the tribes have so much money to throw around now that they kicked out so many members!!
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