"It's no wonder that prospects are growing dim for legislative passage this session of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's proposal for joint state/tribal casino in the metro area. In recent weeks, the proposal took some bad turns.

Pawlenty's proposal took its first troubling turn when it called for a large licensing fee -- $200 million -- to be paid by tribal partners in order to initiate the venture. That big number signaled to legislators, fairly or unfairly, that the governor is more interested in casino proceeds than in making gaming a fairer development tool for the tribes.

There was another signal, too: The governor did not close the door to non-Indian casino proposals, including one at Canterbury."

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Editorial: Time to regroup/Casino bill takes wrong turn (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 4/28)
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