"The Granholm administration has embraced tribal gaming in the state, even to the extent of amending an existing contract to allow the Manistee tribe to open an off-reservation site on what was once the Muskegon Race Track.

Rather than have slot machines at a race track that, based on national averages, would be paying state taxes at a rate of 35 percent, this administration would rather have a tribal casino on that site that might pay about 8 percent of their slot revenue to the state.

Of the 20 casinos operated by the tribes, only five pay Michigan due to poor negotiating on the part of this administration and the prior administration and the grant of exclusive casino rights.

This administration has capitulated to casinos, both commercial and tribal, over the course of the past eight years and as a result, has allowed horse racing to wither and die without any offer of assistance or advocacy or suggestion on how a situation could be improved other than to suggest that the industry has to be self-sustaining."

Get the Story:
Daniel K. Adkins: Governor has hurt Michigan horse racing (The Detroit News 9/23)