by Jack Lee

If you happened to tune in to the Rabbinical Hour (930 on your am dial) you would have heard yours truly substituting for Rabbi Phil with Gene Lafarge. Oy Vey, what I don't know about Jewish ministry would fill a prayer book! However, and I say this thankfully if not mercifully, we talked mostly about the Feb 5th election and the ballot propositions.

Let me sum up the whole one hour show regarding the propositions... vote NO on everything. That's it, just say NO!

I've been feeling a little out on a limb on this Indian gaming thing, our popular governator, my own CRP and CRA have all come out strongly in favor of it. Well, finally I have a new ally, the courageous Republican Women Federated! They have just come out urging a NO vote on Props 94, 95, 96 and 97!

What I see with these 4 propositions is basically a consolidation of gaming power into just 4 Indian tribes. These propositions not only will allow them more gaming and more casino development (without any environmental impact reviews), but a larger say in the state tribal gaming association to the point of having an unfair share of the vote. They would also be empowered to write the formula by which California will receive some of the gaming action on the new slots machines.

To make me even more suspicious of the CRP's motives for supporting them is the big money these 4 casinos have funneled into the party and forked over to our legislators to gain their support. You know the old saying, "follow the money". When you do, you begin to understand why there is such unwarranted enthusiasm for these gaming propositions.