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Minnesota Bill Being Rewritten

MINNESOTA – As reported by the Minnesota Pioneer Press: "A bill the Minnesota House passed last year to put a casino at the Canterbury Park racetrack is being rewritten so it would produce more money for the state during the current budget period.

"Rep. Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan, the chief sponsor of the so-called 'racino' bill, said Wednesday he was drafting new Canterbury legislation he will introduce as a new bill or attempt to amend onto other pending gambling legislation.

"House Speaker Steve Sviggum said two weeks ago that Republican House leaders planned to use profits from state-sponsored gambling to help plug a $160 million hole in the budget or to restore some of the spending cuts the Legislature made last year.

"…But the plan hit a snag when nonpartisan fiscal analysts estimated the racino bill would produce less than $28 million for the state during the 15 months left in Minnesota's two-year budget cycle.

"Buesgens said the rewritten bill would require Canterbury owners to advance payments that the state otherwise would not receive until the 2006-07 budget period…"

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