July 07, 2001 By Lisa Friedman WASHINGTON BUREAU
WASHINGTON --
    A Nevada senator with close ties to the gambling industry has quietly moved to block a Northern California Indian tribe from opening a Las Vegas-style casino in San Pablo.
    The Lytton Band of Pomo Indians, a small, landless tribe from Santa Rosa, is in theprocess of acquiring ownership of a 10-acre property just off Interstate 80, and the card room that goes with the land. The
tribe intends to turn the card room into a full-fledged gambling hall complete with 2,000 slot machines, blackjack and
baccarat.
    The plans have not been sitting well with some Nevada lawmakers who believe it will lead to an explosion of urban
gaming in California's cities and lure gamblers who would otherwise take their money to Reno.  Members of the Nevada
delegation also were upset at how the Lytton tribe came into its potential new fortune last year: quietly.
    Martinez Democrat Rep. George Miller inserted a three-line amendment into a sprawling piece of legislation signed into law by President Clinton. Now, charged Attorney Tony Cohen who represents the 220-member Lytton Band, "Wealthy Nevada casino interests are attempting to destroy the most progressive agreement anywhere in the United States between a tribe and a local government."
    Cohen and aides to California Sen. Dianne Feinstein both identified Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nevada, as the author of a single
sentence on the 104th page of the fourth draft of a bill directing spending for all federal land management.  The line reads only,
"Section 819 of Public Law 106-568 is hereby repealed."  Though it identifies the passage only by number, the provision
directly attacks Miller's amendment allowing the Lytton tribe to create a reservation on land they do not own and convert the
card room there into a casino. Reid's spokeswoman did not return calls seeking comment.  --->
    The entire Senate is expected to vote on the bill next week. Feinstein spokesman Howard Gantman said Friday he did not know if Feinstein was aware of Reid's San Pablo provision.  Of the language, Gantman said, "It's currently under review." He also noted that Miller caught Feinstein unaware last year with his amendment. "She would have been opposed to it," had she known earlier, Feinstein has said.  --->The tribe's plans also have sparked opposition from Gov. Gray Davis who last month asked Attorney General Bill Lockyer to investigate legal options to challenge the Lytton's plans. Davis and others have voiced concerns over expanding gambling in urban communities.
    Jack Gibbon, California political director for the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union, which supports the Lytton's quest, said opponents are victims of "misplaced hysteria."  "They're picturing casinos in downtown San Francisco and San Diego and it's ridiculous. It's not going to happen," he said.
    The Lyttons last year donated $250 to Miller, and the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians, who are expected to manage Casino San Pablo for the Lyttons, donated $1,000. Meanwhile the Culinary Union, according to federal contribution reports, also donated $1,000 to Miller.  According to the Center for Responsive Politics, gambling interests donated a total of $535,000 to Reid's 2000 campaign.