Friday, March 7, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers, backed by representatives of Indian tribes, on Wednesday condemned demands by U.S. Attorneys Charles Stevens and Nora Manella that the tribes reach agreement with the state or face enforcement actions to remove allegedly illegal video slot machines.
"This letter seeks to reassure you that your enforcement actions will not in any way undermine or adversely affect the state's negotiations with the Pala band," Wilson wrote. "Enforcement of the law against illegal activities will not and cannot undermine negotiations over legal gaming activities."
U.S. attorneys have informed California tribes that they must reach casino operation agreements with the state by March 31, or face enforcement actions by federal regulators.
If the tribes fail to reach the agreements, they would have until May 1 to remove their lucrative video slot machines, which state and federal officials say are illegal under state law.
By March 15, the tribes are supposed to confirm that they will adhere to that schedule - or, again, they may face enforcement actions.
Officials have said the enforcement actions would avoid confrontational moves such as seizing games or arresting people.
The tribes say they are sovereign nations and should not be told what they can and cannot do on their reservations.
But under the federal laws which permitted Indians to operate casinos, they may only offer games which are already legal in the states where they are located.
California does not permit the types of games at issue, going so far as to strike down the California Lottery's Keno game on similar grounds.
More than 13,000 of the devices are operated in California by more than three dozen tribes, the attorney general's office has said.
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