Editorial: Respecting tribal gaming compacts in Minnesota

Monday, March 12, 2012  

"An NFL stadium in which a franchise can thrive and a region can take pride comes close to being a basic public amenity in a modern American metropolis. We'd rate it important enough to justify financing with public-purpose state general obligation bonds, serviced by general sales or income taxes.

A majority of state politicians do fear the political consequences of paying for a stadium in any way that can be portrayed as using funds that might have gone to schools, colleges, public safety and social services.

That political reality has led lawmakers to a less-than-ideal funding source for a new stadium -- gambling. The March 1 proposal calls for the addition of electronic games -- pulltabs and bingo -- to the paper-based games that Minnesota charities have been allowed to offer bar and restaurant patrons since 1985.

Electronic charitable games don't bring gambling to additional venues. They are respectful of the state's relationship with the Indian tribes that have operated casinos under the terms of compacts that have been in place for 20 years."

Get the Story:
Editorial: E-pulltabs best bet to win stadium OK (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 3/11)

Also Today:
Vizenor has high hopes for metro casino (The Detroit Lakes Tribune 3/10)

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