Coalition revives fight against more Minnesota gaming

Brian Bakst

Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2005 | 9:37 a.m.

ST. PAUL -- A recently dormant group in the fight against expanded gambling in Minnesota recharged its campaign Tuesday, saying it would press its anti-casino case in churches and through mass mailings.

The adoption of a more aggressive strategy by Citizens Against Gambling Expansion -- which has membership ranging from the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition to the Taxpayers League of Minnesota -- comes as proposals to introduce new casinos to Minnesota gain steam.

"We all agree the social and economic costs far outweigh the benefits claimed by gambling expansion proponents," said Jack Meeks, the coalition's chairman. "Gambling is not the answer to Minnesota's problems."

The group is at odds with Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who has been discussing a casino initiative with three northern American Indian tribes. Pawlenty is weighing a plan that would partner state government with those tribes in a new urban casino venture that would raise money for the state and the tribes, which are among the poorest in Minnesota.

His effort to convince wealthier tribes to share existing gambling revenue in exchange for continued casino exclusivity has gone nowhere. Legislation that would allow private interests to bring casinos to Canterbury Park and elsewhere is also in the mix again this year.

The governor hasn't decided whether to endorse any proposal, Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung said. But he believes the current gambling structure is unfair to the majority of Minnesota Indians and the public at large, McClung said.

"Governor Pawlenty feels these folks are misguided," McClung said of the anti-gambling group. "Gambling is expanding by the hour in Minnesota."

While some casino plans enjoy the support of Democratic legislators, leading players in the debate lately are Pawlenty and GOP legislative leaders. The Republican Party platform opposes expanded gambling.

The anti-gambling coalition's members fall everywhere on the political spectrum, but many prominent voices belong to Republicans. Meeks is a member of the Republican National Committee, for instance. Former Gov. Wendell Anderson, a Democrat, is on the steering committee.

Brian Rusche, JRLC executive director, said he expects to mobilize faith community leaders and encourage them to have parishioners also speak out. David Strom, of the Taxpayers League, said his group might run radio ads. Meeks said the broader coalition would raise money to do mass mailings.

Meeks said the coalition wouldn't turn away money from tribes with profitable casinos as it wages its campaign.

Senate Minority Leader Day, R-Owatonna, said that strategy is disingenious. The tribes, Day said, "now have a new paid group of frontmen."