2/01/2006

From: alra@governance.net
Subject: Democrats Trying To Block Tribal Lobbying Reform

Land Rights Network
American Land Rights Association
Alliance Against Reservation Shopping
PO Box 400 - Battle Ground, WA 98604
Phone: 360-687-3087 - FAX: 360-687-2973
Email: alra@pacifier.com or alra@governance.net
Web Address: http://www.landrights.org
Legislative Office: 507 Seward Square SE - Washington, DC 20003



Democrats Trying To Block Tribal Lobbying Reform


Evidently, the position of the DNC is that there should be no campaign finance reform for tribes, and they are using this issue to attack Republicans.   Never mind that lots of Democrats are up to their ears in tribal gaming money along with Republicans.

Tribal gaming money and their exemption from campaign finance limits is corrupting the entire lobbying process.  There would likely have been no Jack Abramoff Scandal if the tribes did not have a special exemption from campaign limits. 

The Indian Affairs Committee chaired by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) is holding a hearing on Indian Tribes and the Federal Election Campaign Act Wednesday, February 8th at 9:30 AM Eastern time.  That is 6:30 Pacific.  The hearing will be held in 485 Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, DC. 

You can watch the hearing by going to http://www.indian.senate.gov

Be sure to send your own testimony.  You have at least two weeks after February 8th to send your testimony.  The addresses are below.  

For any who missed today’s hearing on Reservation Shopping and the National Indian Gaming Commission, it can be viewed in two days by going to www.indian.senate.gov       Look for past hearings.

The hearing was great.  The questions were terrific.  It is hard to believe that 17 years after the passage of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has never issues ANY regulations.  The BIA on Indian gaming is an unguided missile.





From the Democratic National Committee:

DNC: Republicans Play Blame Game with American Indians

1/31/2006 7:21:00 PM


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To: National Desk, Political Reporter 

Contact: Damien LaVera of the Democratic National Committee Staff, 202-863-8148

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following was released today by the Democratic National Committee:

The effort by Washington Republicans to portray the elaborate pay-to-play scheme orchestrated by Republican super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his cronies as a bipartisan affair is clearly failing. Despite all their efforts, the Washington Post reported this weekend that, by a 46 percent to 27 percent margin, the American people see Democrats as more likely to stand up to lobbyists and special-interest groups than Republicans. (Washington Post, 1/30/06) 

Now, with their effort to muddy the waters failing, Republicans in Washington have apparently resorted to blaming the American Indian tribes exploited by Jack Abramoff and his colleagues. According to a report in today's USA Today, Republicans in Congress are working on legislation that would restrict the tribes' ability to fully participate in the political process. (USA Today, 01/31/06)

"The effort to punish American Indians for Jack Abramoff's sins is an outrageous example of the Republican Party's politics of distortion and distraction," said Democratic National Committee spokesman Damien LaVera. "Apparently, party leaders will do anything to deflect attention from the Republican culture of corruption, even blame the very tribes that Abramoff exploited to fund his pay-to-play scheme.

"American Indians are not the villains here. Jack Abramoff financed the worst corruption scheme in a generation by bilking tribes that were unfamiliar with the ways of Washington out of millions of dollars. Now, by trying to restrict their ability to participate in the political process, Republicans in Congress are attacking the tribes once again. Instead of punishing American Indians for the sins of others, Republicans in Congress should join Democrats in fighting to provide the American people the honest leadership and open government they deserve."

Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, http://www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

-0-

 _______________________________

February 1, 2006

BRIT HUME: Do you think there'll be lobbying reform?...

WILLIAM KRISTOL: If you want to really make a difference...There should be reform in the gambling laws.  It's no accident that this huge river of money comes from the ridiculous legislation that permitted Indian gambling.  
Fox News: Fox News Sunday
January 8, 2006

_______________________________________________
McCain's Law Preserved Loophole for Tribal Contributions
Human Events
January 30, 2006

_______________________________________________
Close the Tribal Loophole in McCain-Feingold
Roll Call Op/Ed
January 23, 2006


Here’s a dear colleague letter from Mike Rogers (R-MI):

Dear Colleague:
        The need to reform Indian gambling in America has never been clearer.  I ask you to join me as a cosponsor of the three bills that I have introduced to crack down on this exploding enterprise.
1.      H.R. 4677, creates a two year moratorium on new Indian casinos
2.      The Restoring Trust in Government Act, closes the tribal campaign finance loophole
3.      H.R. 2353, the Common Sense Indian Gambling Reform Act
        Please have your staff contact my Andy Keiser on my staff at 5.4872 or andy.keiser@mail.house.gov to join me.
                                                Sincerely,
                                                /s/
                                                Mike Rogers (MI)
                                                Member of Congress
Andy Keiser
Legislative Director
Rep. Mike Rogers (MI-08)
andy.keiser@mail.house.gov
Phone: 202.225.4872
Fax: 202.225.5820



*****Action Items from the Alliance Against Reservation Shopping:

-----1.  Plan to watch the McCain Indian Affairs hearing on tribal campaign contributions  Wednesday, February 8st at 9:30 AM Eastern Time.  That is 6:30 AM Pacific.  You should plan to send Senator McCain your comments.  The e-mail and fax addresses are below.  Just go online to www.indian.senate.gov

-----2.  Call, fax or e-mail your Congressman to urge him or her to support a three-year moratorium on any funding for new tribal gaming facilities and casinos as part of lobbying reform.  Ask that he or she have the tribes Ask that he or she oppose reservation shopping in your area and support House Resources Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA) in his effort to re-write the law to protect local communities and private property owners.  All Congressmen may be called at (202) 225-3121.

-----3.  Call, fax or e-mail both your Senators to urge them to support a three-year moratorium on any new funding for new tribal casinos and gaming facilities now.  No loopholes or exceptions.    Also ask them to oppose reservation shopping in your area and support Senator McCain in his effort to clean up this mess.  All Senators may be called at (202) 224-3121.

-----4.  Call, fax or e-mail Rep. Richard Pombo’s office to urge him to move his reservation shopping bill as soon as possible and include a three-year moratorium on any funding for processing applications by the tribes.  Call (202) 225-2761.  Fax: (202) 225-5929.  E-mail:  resources.committee@mail.house.gov

-----5.  Call Senator John McCain’s office to urge his staff to add the three-year moratorium including the no funding provision to any lobbying reform legislation and get his reservation shopping bill passed in the Senate.  The bill number is      S 2078.  Call (202) 224-2251.  Fax: (202) 224-5429.  E-mail:  John_mccain@mccain.senate.gov

-----6.  Help us help you.  Get on the e-mail list of the Alliance Against Reservation Shopping.  Just your name, e-mail, fax and address, and we’ll put you on the list and keep you informed about Congressional and Administration actions.  

E-mail it to:  ccushman@pacifier.com and put Reservation Shopping in the subject line.   There is no cost and you can remove yourself from the list at any time.  You have complete control.

-----7.  Get your website and contact information listed at www.landrights.org.  We’re adding a special Reservation Shopping section listing the websites of all groups we know about so everyone in the country interested in Reservation Shopping can connect up.  You’ll be able to quickly contact them through the  links at www.landrights.org for groups nationwide interested in Reservation Shopping.    

We’re in the process of setting up a new website just for reservation shopping.  That is ultimately where all the websites of groups opposing reservation shopping will be listed.


 
Please forward this message as widely as possible.


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