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September 27, 2003

Dear Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger

I want to thank you on behalf of all the Native American Indian 
people not
only in California but also in the nation for reminding us that we 
must
remain vigilant and united in our fight to protect our Tribal 
sovereignty
and constitutional rights against those that do not respect them and 
would
annihilate them.

Economics 101 - in California the individual taxpayers account for 
over 90
percent of the State revenue. This is the reason the State and local
governments provide large tax incentive to companies to create 
employment.
Employees of businesses produce goods and services that are sold to
consumers (other workers). When the company employees are paid they 
pay
State income taxes and sales taxes when they buys goods and services.

You are absolutely correct in that the California Indian Tribes are 
exempt
from paying State Income Taxes. However, the Tribes are not exempt 
from
paying millions of dollars in employee benefit tax, which includes
Workmen's Comp, health care and retirement benefits as well as social
security taxes. The tribes also buy millions of dollars in goods and
service from local businesses, which in turn pay State taxes and 
employ
more workers that buy goods and services and pay more State taxes.

Now you want Tribes to pay their fair share. Pay their fair share of 
what?
California has been a State since 1853. California Indians were 
placed on
Indian Reservations and Rancherias between the 1860's and 1890's.
California Indians became American Citizens in 1924. California 
Indians
were first allowed to attend public schools in 1934. California 
Indian came
under the jurisdiction of California in 1953 under Public Law 280, 
which
gave the State enforcement rights over crimes on the Reservation it 
also
allow Native American Indians for the first time to buy alcohol 
legally in
California. In 1976 under Public Law 93-638, The Indian Self-
Determination
and Education Act, California Indian were allow for the first time in 
over
(200) year to practice self-governance and within 20 years they have
accomplished what government control could not in 200 years,
self-sufficiency.

Over 50,000 California Indians have served in the military over the 
past
100 years, including World War I, World War II, Korea, Viet Nam, 
Desert
Storm I and II. And upon return to their Reservations and Rancherias 
they
were not allowed to use their G.I. benefits to build a home for their
families because they lived on an Indian Reservation. Only 32 of the 
101
California Indian Tribes have gaming. Of the 32 gaming tribe 
approximately
half are highly successful. California Indians still have the highest
mortality, poverty, diabetes, infant mortality, school drop out, 
violent
crime, Aids and alcohol and substance abuse rates in the State and 
Nation.
The California Indian gaming tribes are contributing to cure this 
epidemic
because the State is not. Again, I ask you, pay their fair share of 
what?

What is even more chilling and terrifying is that I have already seen 
news
reels of the same political position you have taken against the 
California
Indians that was taken against the Jewish people in Germany in the 
late
1930's because they were successful and self-sufficient by another
Austrian. Aristotle once said, "?Those that do not know their history 
are
doomed to re-live it?" and I know that racism, bigotry and 
discrimination
will be the way of life in California if you are elected Governor.