Gop Bill Would Outlaw Tribal Donations To Campaigns Indian Leader Describes Mccaslin Measure As ‘Idiotic’

Republican lawmakers want to make it illegal for Indian tribes to donate to political campaigns in Washington state.

The proposal, by leaders of the state Senate, comes after Washington tribes spent more than $2 million on state political campaigns last year. While most of the money was spent on an initiative to permit slot machines in Native-American casinos, the new Washington Indian Political Action Committee spent its money largely on Democratic candidates.

Introduced last week, Senate Bill 5776 would make it illegal for a tribe to make a contribution to a politician, or for a politician to accept a contribution from a “domestic dependent sovereign.” The bill describes that as an Indian tribe.

“They are sovereign nations, and you often wonder why sovereign nations want to make campaign contributions,” said Sen. Bob McCaslin, R-Spokane, the prime sponsor of the bill.

The bill also would bar campaign contributions from foreigners, eliminate last-minute reporting of large donations and strengthen protections for union members who don’t want their dues going to political contributions.

A tribal leader called the bill “idiotic” and a certain target for a legal challenge. Joe DeLaCruz, a member of the Quinault Tribe, who has been organizing Washington tribes’ increased political activity, said it is designed to weaken the voice of Native Americans in the state’s political debate.

“They are a bunch of maniacs,” DeLaCruz said about the bill’s Republican sponsors. “We’re American citizens and veterans and everything else, too. It seems that every time we get involved in something, somebody wants to kick us off the playing field.”

Republicans are motivated not by tribes’ favoritism toward Democrats, but out of a concern that political contributions give Native Americans an unfair advantage in negotiations with the state, said Senate Majority Leader Dan McDonald, R-Bellevue.

McDonald said he could see how campaign contributions might have “some dramatic effects” on issues such as tribal gambling and disputes over fish and game management.

The bill also would make it illegal for foreigners to contribute to political campaigns. Money from foreigners became an issue last year because of questions about President Clinton’s fund raising.

The bill also would reduce disclosure requirements for campaign contributions made in the final days of a campaign.

Contributions made close to Election Day now must be reported the day they are made. Melissa Warheit, executive director of the state Public Disclosure Commission, said the proposed changes could mean those contributions would not be reported until after the election.