Current tribal members were trying to persuade skeptical Democrats to support proposed gambling expansion deals. The agreements, already approved by the state Senate, would allow several Inland tribes to add thousands of more slot machines to their casinos. Assembly Democrats have said they oppose the deals.

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, with two Coachella Valley casinos, and the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, which has a Temecula casino, were convention underwriters. The California Nations Indian Gaming Association and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, which has a casino near Cabazon, were among the convention sponsors. Another San Diego County tribe, the Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Indians, helped sponsor a dinner. The amount the tribes spent was unavailable, but will be made public later.

Meanwhile, former tribal members, specifically those kicked out of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, were on hand to build opposition to that tribe's amended gambling deal. The disenrolled tribal members believe Pechanga leaders kicked out the members so there would be more gaming profits for the remaining members. Pechanga officials have denied those charges.

The ex-tribal members hope to get a chance to testify in Sacramento when the Assembly begins debating those pending deals. They believe their civil rights have been violated by tribal leaders and want lawmakers to kill the Pechanga proposal.

The line between payback and good public policy sometimes can blur in the Legislature. Take the case of Senate Bill 131 by state Sen. Jim Battin, R-La Quinta.

Last year, a judge cleared Battin of any wrongdoing after the state Fair Political Practices Commission accused the senator of violating fundraising rules.

Which brings us to SB 131, introduced in January. The measure would make it a misdemeanor for any commission official to improperly release information. Oh, and the offender also would be fired and barred for life from state employ.

The bill, though, appears to be dead for at least the year. The measure was scheduled to be heard in the Senate elections committee last week, but it never came up. Friday, meanwhile, was the deadline for bills with price tags to pass their first policy committees.

Inland criminal-justice types flooded the Capitol last Wednesday, but it wasn't a raid. The occasion was the annual milk-and-cookies reception hosted by Riverside County Sheriff Bob Doyle and San Bernardino County Sheriff Gary Penrod.

The reception has been a tradition for more than a decade. Law enforcement officials get the chance to make their case to lawmakers and staff who stop by for a wholesome afternoon pick-me-up.

Among the bills pushed this year by both counties' sheriffs departments is one dealing with the state's Megan's Law Web site. It would require the state to list whether a registered sex offender is on parole or is required to wear a satellite-tracking device.

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, named Longville to the $50,000-a-year post Friday. The panel negotiates contracts with hospitals and managed-care plans for the state Department of Health Services.

Longville, a San Bernardino Democrat, served six years in the Assembly before leaving in 2004 because of term limits. In a statement, Nunez said Longville is ideally suited for the commission because of his involvement with health groups and his carrying various health-related bills while in the Legislature.

Unmentioned was Longville's up-close-and-personal look at the health care system. In 2005, he underwent heart surgery. Last year, he crashed his bike near Cal State San Bernardino and spent several days in the hospital. This week's Political Notebook was compiled by Michelle DeArmond and Jim Miller.

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