The Federal Election Commission (FEC) has ruled that Tribal Governments are not subject to the same limits on campaign contributions as individuals and non-governmental groups. The question has been raised as to the wisdom and fairness of this ruling. It has been the hope of many that current campaign finance legislation, designed to limit the influence of special interest groups, would be written or amended to prevent unbridled tribal government campaign contributions.
Despite the efforts of many citizens to pressure Congress to close the "tribal loophole," no Senator has had the courage to publicly address this issue. Here is some of the story.
Read CERA's letter to US Senators on the Tribal Loophole
Read
CERA's letter to President Bush on the Tribal Loophole
|
How
Tribal Sovereignty Threatens Voting Rights |
and...
May 15, 2000 - FEC Issues a Decision
May 20, 2000 - BNA Money & Politics Report - An Early Warning
May 22, 2000 - Public Campaign Web Site Repeats Early Warning of Tribal Loophole
June 14, 2000 - Analysis of FEC Ruling on Tribal Status for Campaign Donations
April 11, 2001 - Malkin Article Critical of McCain-Feingold Tribal Government Loophole
July 12, 2001 - Congressman Rob Simmons Amendment to Close Tribal Loophole Rebuffed
July 16, 2001 - SIGMA Objects to Tribal Loophole
November 25, 2001 - Boston Globe Article Critical of Indian Government Loophole
January 3, 2002 - The National Review warns of Senator John McCain's interests in Reform Legislation
January 12, 2002 - The Cato Institute objects to McCain-Feingold Bill Loophole
February 23, 2002 - LA Times Article Critical of Indian Government Loophole
February
27, 2002 - Associated Press Reports Little Effort Being Done to Address Tribal Loophole
February 28, 2002 -
Associated Press Reports Bush Concerned About Tribal Loophole
March 4, 2002 - The Christian Science Monitors Demands Tribal Loophole be Closed
March 4, 2002 - Fox News Reports Pending Problems Over Tribal Loophole
March 7, 2002 - Pro Family Organization Concerned by Gaming Influence
March 15, 2002 - Citizen Group Cites Troubling Sources of Influence
March 18, 2002 - LA Times Editorial Blasts the Failure of Congress to Address Tribal Loophole
March 19, 2002 - The Press Enterprise Notes Big Tribal Money Going to Local CA Elections
March 19, 2002 - USA Today: Campaign Finance Reformed or Rearranged?
March 20, 2002 - US Senate Passes "Flawed" Campaign Finance Reform Bill
March 27, 2002 - Press-Enterprise Warns of Tribal Influence on the Day Bush signs "Flawed" Bill
May 30, 2002 - Wall Street Journal Dismayed by Tribal Loopholes
July 14, 2002 - Congressional Candidate Faces Tribal Money
July 7, 2002 - Tribal Funds Purchase Effective Lobbyists
August 8, 2002 - BIA Work Influenced by Tribal Money?
September 15, 2002 - Tribal Influence Growing Fast
September 16, 2002 - Tribal Money Goes to Government Overseers
September 27, 2002 - Tribe Claims Immunity from Disclosure law
October 24, 2002 - Wisconsin Tribal Governments Influence State Elections
November 24, 2002 - California Tribe Claims Immunity From State Election Laws
January 6, 2003 - California Brings Suit Against Tribe Under Election Laws
January 9, 2003 - Palm Springs Tribe Facing Huge Fine for Ignoring CA Election Law from Copley News
January 16, 2003 - California Sues Tribe to Comply with State Election Laws from the AP
February 2003 - Advocacy, Avarice or Addiction? - What is the price of Congress? from CERA News
February 28, 2002 - Tribe Attempts to Buy Outcome of Los Angeles Election - from the LA Times
March 7, 2003 - Tribe Must Respect State Election Laws Judge Rules
March 14, 2005 - FEC rule allow tribal contributions while receiving federal contracts
Time
Magazine Exposé of Indian Tribe's Buying Political Favor in Washington by
TIME Magazine
California Elected Officials Swamped With Tribal Gaming Money from the San Francisco Chronicle
Voting Irregularities Alleged on South Dakota Reservations
Arizona Congressman J.D. Hayworth Big Recipient of Tribal Money
Cherokee Tribe Increases Campaign Spending
Tribe Claims Immunity From State Election Laws
Tribe Gives $100,000 Seeking Access to Federal Officials from the Desert Sun
Arizona Gaming Issue Spawns Unprecedented Tribal Spending
Tribal Gaming Money Pours Into Political Pockets from the Center for Responsive Politics
Tribal Gaming Money buying influence in California by the Sacramento Bee
California Governor Davis - Under Tribal Control? by the Desert Sun
California
Tribe Laundered Campaign Funds by the Los Angeles Times
How much
are Tribal Governments Giving?
How
Tribal Money Helped Corrupt the Clinton Administration
How
the Radical Indian Movement Controls American Governments by Darrel
Smith
The
Agenda of the Tribal Establishment by Darrel Smith
Is
this American Democracy…or Racism and Tyranny? by Darrel Smith
Campaign
Contributions of the Native Kind
by Lisa Morris
Tribal
Elections: Civil Rights for Members
by Lisa Morris
Pequot Tribe Spending Big Money on Elected Officials
Do Tribal Gaming Lobbies Own the California State Government? from the LA Times
Tribe's Political Power Growing Stronger
Tribal Lobbyists At Work from the New York Times
Tribes Seek Favor of the Party in Power
Tribes Seek More Favors With Money
Idaho Elections See More Tribal Money
Tribes Infuse $4,000,000 into Idaho Elections
Gaming Money Lures Non-Indians Too
Ute Tribes Spends Big on Lobbyists from the Associated Press
Top Tribal Contributors 2001 - 2002 Election Cycle from the Associated Press
California Tribes Impact Legislation With Money from The Press Democrat