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Legislators Turn Down Casino Checks28 April 2004MINNESOTA – As reported by the Star Tribune: ``Envelopes with bundles of checks from contributors linked to Caesars Entertainment of Las Vegas arrived in the offices of some key GOP House members shortly after the 2004 Legislature convened in early February. ``Top Republican House leaders say they were startled because the checks appeared to violate two state laws: one prohibits "bundling" campaign checks and the other bars contributions during the session from lobbyists or principals with matters pending before the Legislature. ``House Speaker Steve Sviggum said he immediately returned his own envelope of seven checks totaling $1,425. ``Checks totaling about $11,000 sent to eight GOP legislators, most of them members of a key committee that oversees gambling issues, were returned, and apparently no laws were broken. ``…House and Senate Republican leaders favor at least some expansion of gambling, such as a "racino" at Canterbury Downs, to help reduce continuing budget shortfalls. Several other non-Indian plans, including a Caesars Entertainment proposal for a casino at the Mall of America or some other site, are under serious consideration. ``Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who has been trying to persuade Indian tribes to share some of the revenue from their current monopoly on casino gambling, has been hinting that he might accept an expansion of non-Indian gambling to produce revenue…" |