A lame duck bid to hand off 1,400 acres to a casino running Native American tribe in southern California is drawing fire not just from locals worried it will destroy the rural feel of coastal Santa Ynez Valley, but also the concerns of the late former President Ronald Reagan.

At issue is federal legislation favorable to the small Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians that would give them control of the land, meaning they could expand their reservation and casino, build high-rises, or push other development even if locals said no.