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Political Agenda

Racino effort at starting gate; supporters urged to action

By Jay Weiner | 01/06/11

The Legislature has been in session for two days and, as expected, the grass-roots effort to push a "racino" at Canterbury Park and Running Aces has launched.

In an email to supporters today, former Sen. Dick Day, who now heads a lobbying group called Racino Now, urged racino backers to email their House and Senate members. At Racino Now's website, a template exists for advocates to communicate with their lawmakers.

In his note to supporters, Day writes: "About one-third of the Senators and Representatives are new to the legislature this year. Many of these individuals may not be familiar with racino legislation. It is very important that your legislators, both new and old, hear from you regarding racino as soon as possible."

While Gov. Mark Dayton hasn't backed a racino effort, he did express some support for a casino at the Mall of America during the campaign.

Comments (5)

Submitted by Sue Halligan on January 6, 2011 - 2:20pm.

Just what Minnesota needs: more gambling.

Submitted by Bernice Vetsch on January 7, 2011 - 10:04am.

And possibly another broken treaty with the tribes (unless they are the ones to operate it/them, of course).

Submitted by Tony Spadafora on January 7, 2011 - 11:29am.

Coupling Racino with Vikings stadium funding makes little sense to me.

I know it sounds like a painless way to fund a new multipurpose stadium, but it's also the marriage of two controversial issues, which won't sit well with legislators or citizen-taxpayer-voters.

Stadium should be funded based on benefit. How does a new Vikings stadium benefit the owners of Mystic Lake Casino or other MN casinos?

Governor Dayton's idea of a state owned casino much better sense. It does not violate the agreement with Native Americans and it will eventually generate many times the revenues to the state from a high percentage of out-of-state casino patrons.

Submitted by Drew McDaniel on January 7, 2011 - 8:07pm.

No gaming proposal currently flying around would violate the tribal compacts. The idea that they have an exclusivity clause is pure fiction.

I know that the vast majority of my friends support a racino proposal. It makes sense because racino has nothing to do with a stadium, it has to do with creating jobs in Minnesota's horse and agricultural industries. These are jobs that won't exist if this legislation isn't passed in the near future.

The horsemen in this state have waited long enough, it's time to get this thing done and put people back to work. This industry has been decimated by the existing casinos and the state lottery... these hard working folks deserve a chance to earn a living in the state of Minnesota.

Submitted by Charles Senkler on January 8, 2011 - 1:38am.

What about the E-tab machines and the bill to allow electronic pull tab machines in 3,500 licensed liquor retailers across the state. The estimate of the income for the state is over $600 million per year, the game is legal and it's simply an update that provides more security, saves paper (trees) and is more fun to play.
It gives the beleagured hospitality Industry some room to breath, it helps charities across the state and would be as true a stimulus as anything the wizards in Washington have come up with.

The problem is partisan politics, the DFL want the A/I casinos and their massive donations and the GOP support the Racino, the Sampson family and their donations.

When will the politicans of Minnesota start considering whats good for the people of Minnesota and quit worring about their own re-election coffers.