Los Angeles Times – Obama administration policies stimulating an expansion of tribal gambling have touched off new battles over proposed tribal casinos in California and elsewhere. Since President Barack Obama took office, the Department of the Interior has recognized dozens of new tribes and approved requests from a handful of others to acquire land that could house a casino, contingent on deals between the tribes and their home states. The department rejected nearly all such applications under President George W. Bush. The federal decisions are causing a ripple effect in California, home to 109 federally recognized tribes, 62 of which…