Minnesota tribes surprised by $200M casino 'fee'

Wednesday, February 9, 2005  

Leaders of three Minnesota tribes seeking a Twin Cities casino in partnership with the state say they were never told of a $200 million "fee" announced by Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) in his State of the State address.

"The governor's speech was the first time we heard there was going to be a $200 million fee," Gary Padrta, the public relations coordinator for the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, told The Minneapolis City Pages. "If we had access to that kind of money, we certainly wouldn't be pitching a casino in the metro area," Leech Lake George Goggleye said in another publication.

Floyd Jourdain Jr., the chairman for the Red Lake Band, said the first time the fee came up was four days before the speech. But he said Pawlenty's chief of staff Dan McElroy would not divulge any details.

"Imagine that, sitting across the table negotiating with somebody and they say they can't tell us anything," Jourdain said.

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Divide and Conquer (The Minneapolis City Pages 2/9)