Facebook Twitter Email
TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2003

"The Star Tribune erred when, in a recent editorial, it claimed that allowing state-sanctioned casinos would not cause Minnesota any regret in the future. Thousands of rural Minnesotans -- most of them non-Indian -- who depend on Indian casinos in outstate Minnesota for employment will have much to regret if the state moves ahead with any of the casino proposals now being debated.

That is why I cannot understand how Rep. Sondra Erickson, R-Princeton -- whose district includes Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley -- can coauthor the bill that would create a joint state-tribal casino in the Twin Cities north metro area. The north metro casino would take jobs away from her constituents. It would damage the economy of the region she represents. In today's volatile economy, jobs are moving away from outstate Minnesota -- why does she want to hasten that process?"

Get the Story:
Melanie Benjamin: New casino would hurt our state (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 4/8)

Related Stories:
Editorial: Urban casino proposal is worthy (4/4)
Minn. panel rejects urban tribal casino (4/2)
Remote Minn. tribes make case for urban casino (3/27)
Remote Minn. tribes propose urban casino (3/26)