Opinion

Erma Vizenor: Everyone wins with White Earth casino plan

Friday, March 16, 2012

"Myths and money once again are distorting the conversation on gambling that Minnesotans should be having. Instead of examining the best solution, policymakers and editorial writers are turning their backs on the only solution that is fiscally sound and morally responsible.

The White Earth Nation is proposing a business relationship with the state to build a metro-area casino. The tribe would be responsible for all development costs but would split revenue with the state. From every perspective, the plan -- MinnesotaWins -- makes sense.

We have done what no other gaming proposal this year has done: We have had our plan analyzed by objective third-party experts, the investment banks that would arrange the debt financing. They estimate that the state's share of the revenue in the first five years of operation would be between $726 million and nearly $1 billion -- all of it with no new taxes. (Details are available at our website, www.MinnesotaWins.com.)"

Get the Story:
Tribal leader: A better way to fund a stadium (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 3/16)

Also Today:
Tribe: New Casino Could Bring MN $1B in 5 Years (Twin Cities Business 3/15)