Temecula, California (AP) — The Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula plans to lay off about 400 of its 4,700 workers, blaming tough economic times. The casino, the second-largest private employer in Riverside County, draws customers from across Southern California. Economist John Husing says people spend less on entertainment during an economic downturn, and the region has been hit hard by the housing slump and overall economic downturn.

The soothing commercials for Proposition 94-97 suggest their passage would offer a pain-free, USD 9 billion elixir for California’s budget woes. These measures are neither pain-free nor an elixir. Passage of these propositions would allow four of the state’s wealthiest tribes – Agua Caliente, Morongo, Pechanga, Sycuan – to dramatically expand their Southern California gambling operations by adding up to 17,000 Nevada-style slot machines.

The Pechanga Band of Mission Indians and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, two tribes that are the target of proposed ballot initiatives to limit casino gambling, filed lawsuits Wednesday to block the referenda. The lawsuits allege that the backers of the initiatives did not have signatures supporting the measures certified on time by the state. Pechanga, Morongo and two other tribes signed new agreements with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger allowing them to increase the number of slot machines in their casinos.

The referendum battle over a major expansion of Indian casino gambling in California already resembles the stretch run of a bruising political campaign — despite the fact nothing has even qualified for the ballot. But with signature gatherers circulating petitions for Feb. 5 referendums seeking to stop four of the Golden State’s richest tribes from adding up to 17,000 new slot machines, big campaign dollars are flowing and the political vitriol is in full bloom.

Sacramento – When two wealthy California Indian tribes took the unusual step of joining the fight to overturn lucrative new gambling deals for a group of rivals, they argued that the compacts encourage big gaming tribes to flood their markets with slot machines. The unbridled competition could swamp smaller casinos in outlying areas, particularly in north San Diego County and the Coachella Valley, the tribes‘ representatives warned.

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians along with two other tribes reached the end of a campaign to expand their tribal casinos when the governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed bills ratifying revised gambling agreements. The four bills signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will allow the Agua Caliente and Morongo tribes alone to add up to 8,500 new slot machines.

Sacramento – Labor unions Wednesday attacked a renegotiated gaming agreement with the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians near Temecula, alleging that the deal, known as a compact, lacks protections for casino workers. A short while later, though, union leaders urged support for a nearly identical compact with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians near Highland.