Democrats in CA Keep Convicted Felon Rod Wright, Internet Gaming Supporter In State Senate

State Sen. Roderick Wright will remain a member of California's upper house until an appeal is decided on his eight felony convictions for lying about where he lived.

But the Democratic lawmaker from Inglewood is being removed as chairman of the powerful Senate Governmental Organization Committee, which oversees gambling and liquor laws. He was allowed to keep his membership on the Senate's budget, energy and human services committees.

"Unless and until there is a final conviction for a felony," state Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) told reporters, "I do not believe it is appropriate or necessary to expel Sen. Wright or ask him to resign."

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Morongo and Pechanga join Forces to Keep Californians From Internet Poker

Throwing their consideral political clout around, the Morongo Band and The Pechanga Band (formerly know as and federally recognized as the Temecula Band) have joined forces to keep Californian's from enjoying internet gaming.


It started with behind-the-scenes politicking by a wealthy Southern California casino tribe and powerful card clubs that dreamed of making a mint by legalizing online poker in California.

But Tuesday, a bill to allow Californians to use their laptops and iPhones to legally wager over the Internet sputtered amid intense opposition from the very interests that initiated the online poker push.

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians and card clubs, including the Commerce Casino and the Hollywood Park Casino, charged that the poker bill – as drafted – could allow offshore poker sites and Las Vegas casinos to run Internet gambling in California.


In February, Mark Macarro, chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, said his tribe would withhold more than $42 million in annual casino revenue sharing payments to California if the online games were legalized.