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Minnesota Casino Plans Met with Criticism

MINNESOTA – As reported by the Richfield Sun Herald: "Supporters of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's proposal to expand casino gambling in the Twin Cities – possibly as part of Phase II of the Mall of America – may have felt lonely during a panel discussion last week.

"In fact, the only speaker on a five-member panel to express approval for the idea was Dan McElroy, the governor's chief of staff. Everybody else, including a former governor and state attorney general, argued against the proposal.

"The forum, sponsored by the Richfield Chamber of Commerce and the Richfield League of Women Voters, drew a full house to Woodlake Lutheran Church.

"Pawlenty has supported a Twin Cities area casino run by a private organization under the auspices of the northern Minnesota tribes. However, many members of his own party disagree with him.

"New money in state coffers is not the main thrust behind the governor's plan, McElroy insisted. He portrayed it as an effort to ensure income for those American Indians still languishing in poverty because they receive little or nothing from tribal casinos.

"…State Rep. Ann Lenczewski, DFL-Bloomington, questioned the apparent speed with which the Pawlenty administration is pursuing a state casino.

"…Lenczewski's fears of a casino imposed on an unwilling Bloomington were not allayed by a statement earlier this month by Pawlenty, she said. In it, the governor indicated he wanted a "mechanism for community consent" but did not predicate construction of a casino on a referendum result…"

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