Terminate Tall Tales About Tribes

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By Vincent Armenta

10/3/03

When Arnold Schwarzenegger looked in the camera and launched into a monologue of distorted facts about California tribes, he insulted more than 300,000 Native Americans in California.

Unfortunately, he's flooding the airwaves with so many appearances and commercials that we'll have to turn off our TVs to avoid seeing him tell more half-truths about Native American tribes.

We want to set the record straight and let voters know that California tribes do contribute to the state, do pay their fair share and tribal members do pay taxes. Line by line, we aim to dispel Mr. Schwarzenegger's myths.

Mr. Schwarzenegger said that Indian casinos make billions, yet pay no taxes.

Fact: According to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, states are not allowed to impose any tax, fee, charge or other assessment upon an Indian tribe. However, tribes do pay payroll taxes, all tribal members pay federal income tax, and those living off the reservation also pay state, sales and property taxes. Arnold, remember this simple rule: Governments do not pay taxes, but its citizens do. Tribes are governments.

Mr. Schwarzenegger said that other states require revenue from Indian gaming, but California Indian tribes pay virtually nothing to the state.

Fact: The state compact agreements with California gaming tribes require tribes to pay into two special funds: The Special Distribution Fund was created to help mitigate the effects that gaming has on communities. The Indian Gaming Sharing Trust Fund is designed to share the wealth with non-gaming tribes in the state. Mr. Schwarzenegger said it's time for tribes to pay their fair share.

Fact: The tribal-state gaming compacts require California tribes to pay their fair share. In fact, more than $100 million a year goes into a fund established to pay for the impact of gaming on local communities. In addition, each individual gaming tribe provides funds for its local community. The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, for example, has provided $5.5 million in donations to organizations in Santa Barbara County over the past several years.

Mr. Schwarzenegger said all other major candidates take money from tribes and pander to them. He said he doesn't play that game.

Fact: Mr. Schwarzenegger declared he would not take money from anyone. He then went on to collect $8.5 million in contributions from businesses he says aren't special interests. Also, an interesting side note: The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians received a request from one of Mr. Schwarzenegger's supporters for a contribution for his campaign.

Mr. Schwarzenegger said that if California voters give him their vote, he guarantees things will change.

Fact: Yes, things will change. The state would be run by a man who is best known for impersonating a robot, whose mentor is former Gov. Pete Wilson and who makes no excuses for past disrespectful behavior toward women. We shudder to think of how things would change with Mr. Schwarzenegger as governor. Do we really want Mr. Schwarzenegger as the governor of the state of California? This tribe says, "No!"

Vincent Armenta is the tribal chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.