Tribal casino clears state House committee

By Don Davis

Pioneer Capitol Reporter

      ST. PAUL – Northwest Minnesota’s two American Indian tribes, the poorest in the state, Wednesday night moved closer than ever to winning approval for a Twin Cities-area casino.

Significant hurdles remain for the White Earth and Red Lake Bands of Chippewa, with an untested committee standing in the way.

      The House State Government Finance Committee passed the proposal 6-4. Bill sponsor Rep. Bill Haas, R-Champlin, intended the bill to go directly to the full House, but some committee members insisted it be detoured to the Ways and Means Committee first.

      Most Ways and Means members have heard little about the bill and supporters did not know its chances there. In the Senate, meanwhile, supporters wait to see how the measure fares in the House.

      “This was a small step in a good direction,” White Earth Chairman Doyle Turner said. “But there was one more hurdle put in the way.”

      Turner and Red Lake Treasurer Darrell Seki said they must convince Ways and Means members that their tribal members need the estimated $65 million a year each tribe would receive from the casino. The state would get another $90 million, Haas said.

      The tribal leaders said committee members who questioned how the money would be used can be assured it would help fix $500 million in needs on each reservation. Economic development, health care, law enforcement and education programs are among those to get funding, the pair said. They added that funds are needed because the federal government has not come through with money it promised.

      “They keep violating the treaties that were signed long ago by our ancestors,” Seki said.

      The bill does not specify a site for the casino, but Turner said he leans toward land near an Albertville outlet mall northwest of the Twin Cities.

      Valerie Red Horse, a consultant for the tribes, said if lawmakers approve the bill, a temporary tent-like casino would be built within weeks, so income could start flowing. It probably would have about half of the 4,000 video slot machines planned for the full casino.

      The plan’s primary opponent, Finlayson Democratic Rep. Bill Hilty, said he doesn’t like the measure because it expands gambling and some of that gambling money would go to the state.

      “We might just as well send a squad of state troopers out to mug people if we want to get money,” he said.

      But Haas said the casino would provide opportunities for White Earth and Red Lake members on the reservations and nearly 8,000 in the Twin Cities.

      “They haven’t got anything else right now,” added Rep. Tony Cornish, R-Good Thunder, who worked as a game warden near the reservations for 20 years.