Minnesota Tribe Withdraws from Casino Proposal

MINNESOTA – As reported by the Minnesota Star-Tribune: "In a harshly worded letter that accuses Gov. Tim Pawlenty of "poisoning the water" on negotiations between Indian tribes and the state, the head of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe on Wednesday withdrew an earlier offer to be a partner of the state on joint gambling proposals. Melanie Benjamin, the band's chief executive, criticized several of Pawlenty's recent actions, particularly his decision to personally appear in election ads for House Republican candidates that called for Indian tribes to make revenue payments to the state.

"'You led a political smear campaign,' Benjamin wrote, 'in a deliberate attempt to turn undeserved animosity toward Indian gaming and Indian people into votes for Republican candidates.'

"Benjamin, whose tribe's casinos at Hinckley and Lake Mille Lacs are the second most profitable in the state, had broken with other tribes in August to propose a joint partnership with the state. In return for new casino games and simulcast horse-race betting, Benjamin said the tribe could offer contributions toward a Vikings or Twins stadium.

"Benjamin also cited Pawlenty's call for the tribes to pay $350 million a year to the state to retain their monopoly on casino gambling and his intimation that Las Vegas casino interests might otherwise be waiting in the wings.

"…Dan McElroy, Pawlenty's chief of staff and point person on gambling, said that he had talked to Pawlenty about the letter and that 'we were surprised and disappointed, but our position hasn't changed.'…"