“It’s not payback. It’s not buying a vote."

Tauri Bigknife, attorney general for California's Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, responding to suggestions that the tribe's purchase of $60,000 in radio ads was a form of political reciprocation. It is illegal for lawmakers to pledge a vote in exchange for a campaign donation and there's no evidence that happened in this case. However, the ads supported Assemblymember Evan Low's campaign for Congress and Low voted to support legislation allowing casino-owning tribes to sue their competitors. Bigknife noted that the tribe gave money to Low's campaign before he cast his votes.