During the last ten years the eight gaming tribes of San Bernardino and Riverside counties have contributed more than $160 million to state and federal political campaigns, according to an investigative story published by the Desert Sun.
The lobbying and advertising expenditures was mainly in the service of expanded Indian gaming.
The newspaper looked at campaign finance documents filed with the Secretary of State and Federal Election Commission since 2007-2008. The study did not include local elections such as county or city or sheriff or local ballot measures.
By far the lion’s share of contributions were made by the Pechanga, Morongo and Agua Caliente tribes: $110 million concentrated on four 2008 campaigns that allowed them to greatly expand their total slot machines.
One study by the University of Iowa concluded that gaming tribes are among the largest campaign donors. Dr. Fred Boehmke told the Sun, “We were comparing tribal contributions to contributions from some of the country’s larger companies and there are some tribes giving contributions on par with these companies.”
Boehmke said it’s important to note that although some gaming tribes wield great political influence that the great majority of tribes do not.
The eight tribes studied by the Sun spent more than three quarters of their contributions on propositions, with 9 percent going to candidates and 4 percent to political parties.
The Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, which owns the largest casino resort on the West Coast, contributed $59 million to state elections and $5.7 million to federal elections since 2008, said the Sun.
The Aqua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, which is based in the Coachella Valley, contributed $3.8 million to federal elections and $25 million to state contests during the period studied.
The Morongo Band of Mission Indians contributed $4.5 million to federal contests and $47 million to state elections.
The Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, the Soboba Band of Mission Indians and the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians combined contributed more than $20 million to federal campaigns and more than $11 million to state contests.
