Indian Gaming > Tribal Chair: Nothing fair about Pawlenty casino plan

March 21, 2005

Tribal Chair: Nothing fair about Pawlenty casino plan

"Having announced his support for a Las Vegas-style metro casino, and his openness to permitting a casino at Canterbury Park in Shakopee and possibly one in Anoka County, [Minnesota Gov. Tim] Pawlenty seeks to claim the one source of economic opportunity available to most tribes.

He argues that the rules governing gaming in Minnesota should change because some Indians have too much and the state "deserves a better deal." He goes on to suggest that some tribes are indifferent to the needs of poor tribes. He says it's a matter of fairness -- fairness to the state, fairness to poor tribes.

But nothing's fair about the governor's use of the bully pulpit to fuel resentment toward tribes by telling half-truths about Indian gaming. Nor is it fair to use the age-old method of divide and conquer, pitting tribes against one another to plunder their resources.

The truth is that tribal gaming, while not perfect, has benefited Indian and non-Indian alike. It is a Minnesota success story that some lawmakers are twisting into tragedy to sell their use of gambling to fund government. Fairness is not the issue."

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