Monday, November 4, 2002

Tribes funneling more donations to Republicans
ELECTION TRENDS
By DOUG ABRAHMS
and LUIS PEREZ Norwich Bulletin

Indian tribes are funneling more money to Republicans than Democrats in this election cycle, a move that marks a sharp departure from their previous practices.
 
Tribal campaign contributors have given 55 percent of their money to Republicans for the 2002 election compared with 21 percent for all of the 2000 election, according to Federal Election Commission data as of Oct. 22. 

At this pace, the tribes are poised to exceed their contributions from the last non-presidential election in 1998. 

Through June, they have streamlined 1.3 million into the coffers of national candidates and parties, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, much of which has gone to Republicans. 

Chuck Bunnell, deputy chief of the Mohegan tribe, which owns Mohegan Sun casino in Montville, was not aware of this trend, but credits this shift at the national level to the tribes' efforts to conserve and expand their political clout amid the constant challenges they face. 

"We support candidates that honor and respect our values," Bunnell said. "The key to growth is to be aligned with people that listen to and take action on our issues." 

Tribes are seeking to be heard on issues ranging from tribal sovereignty recognition by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to funding for Indian health programs. But as Indian casinos get larger and more numerous, many Indian issues are becoming more related to taxes, infrastructure projects and other corporate-like concerns. These vexing challenges have propelled the tribal nations to contribute to both parties and to seek non partisan support of their goals. 

Bunnell also provided a subtle reason why the tribes are breaking with tradition. 

"Neil McCaleb -- Secretary of the Interior -- is of Native American ancestry. I guess that this may be a natural draw," Bunmell said. McCaleb is a member of the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma and was tapped by the Bush Administration to oversee the Bureau of Indian Affairs. 

Bunnell said the theme of partisan support is not playing out at the local level, however. 

"Mohegan is blind to party lines," Bunnell said. 

The Mashantucket Pequot tribe gave 66 percent of its federal contributions to Democrats in the last election but only 26 percent so far in this election. 

"I don't think it's a great, great mystery," John Guevremont, director of national government affairs for the Mashantuckets, said. "Our efforts are with the party in power." 

The Mashantuckets have given 74 percent of their federal contributions to Republicans in this election, but those numbers should grow closer to parity before the end of the year, he said. The Federal Election Commission has not released most of the fund-raising data from the third quarter yet. 

Spotlight on issues 

Another supporter of tribal affairs feels that the Republicans' ability to spotlight issues that resonate with the tribes has influenced the increase in contributions. 

Scott Dacey, a lobbyist for the Morongo Band of Mission Indians in Banning, Calif., said the tribes are recognizing similarities with the Republican Party, though he forecasted that there will be parity by year's end. 

"(Tribes) are interested in local control. They're their interested in low taxes and they're interested in self-sufficiency," he said. "These are things that are consistent with Republican ideals." 

Other tribes nationally also are giving more to Republicans. For example: 

The Eastern Band of Cherokees of Cherokee, N.C., switched from giving nearly all of their donations to Democrats in the 2000 election to less than 25 percent so far for the upcoming election, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a non-partisan government watchdog group. 

The Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians of Temecula, Calif., gave all their donations to Democrats in 2000, but only 8 percent this election. 

It's a far cry from a decade ago, when American Indian tribes' political contributions totaled less than $130,000. Since then, revenues from Indian casinos have soared, topping $12 billion last year, giving the tribes a funding source for political donations. 

Still, their growing economic clout is dwarfed by other interest groups. Lawyers, for example, have made $59 million in political donations for this election and drug companies have spent $18 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. 

Richard Milanovich, chairman of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians of Palm Springs, Calif., said tribes historically have given more to Democrats, but that is changing. 

"There's a false sense that Republicans don't vote 'yes' on Indian issues," he said. "I think it's smart to contribute to both (parties.)" 

The Agua Calientes have given $50,000 to the Republican Party so far this election, about twice as much as to Democrats. Two years ago, most of the tribes' federal contributions went to Democrats. 

Tribes are seeking to be heard on issues ranging from tribal sovereignty recognition by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to funding for Indian health programs. But as Indian casinos get larger and more numerous, many Indian issues are becoming more related to taxes, infrastructure projects and other corporate-like concerns. 

Several tribes made a concerted effort to reach out to Republicans four years ago after Rep. Bill Archer, R-Texas, proposed taxing businesses on Indian reservations, Guevremont said. Tribes used donations to meet GOP politicians and lay out their issues, he said. 

"And so we've seen that the attacks on Indian country have diminished to a considerable extent," he said.