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Minnesota Legislation Would Allow Two Metro Casinos

MINNESOTA – As reported by the Pioneer Press: "Casino legislation being negotiated between Gov. Tim Pawlenty and three Indian tribes would allow lawmakers to license up to two metro-area casinos and provide a promise that the Legislature would not authorize any more for some period into the future, according to the state senator who is scheduled to sponsor the bill.

"Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, said Wednesday that the legislation would give Minnesota's nine other tribes a limited window of opportunity -- perhaps only until April 1 -- to sign on as part of the Indian side of a partnership with the state.

"Pappas and Rep. Andy Westerberg, R-Blaine, said Pawlenty and tribal leaders have tentatively planned a news conference Friday to announce agreement on legislation proposing a state-tribal casino in the Twin Cities.

"…Dan McElroy, Pawlenty's chief of staff who has been negotiating with representatives of the Leech Lake, Red Lake and White Earth bands of Ojibwe, declined to comment directly on the talks Wednesday.

"…Pappas and Westerberg said their bills would allow up to two new metro-area casinos, presumably the joint state-tribal operation that Pawlenty supports and a rival casino planned by the owners of Canterbury Park racetrack. Pappas said the two proposals also might be merged. In that case, the state-tribal casino would be built at the racetrack in Shakopee, just a few miles from Mystic Lake, the largest of Minnesota's Indian casinos.

"…Pappas and Westerberg said they had received only partial drafts of the planned legislation from Pawlenty's staff, and neither expected to receive final language until next week…"

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