The idea that gambling is a good idea for state funding of legislative priorities is one of the few subjects you will ever find Democrats and the leader of the taxpayer's league in agreement on. Both groups agree it is a bad idea. Gambling costs a community more then it brings in. Several newspaper polls show the majority of Minnesotans want a reasonable tax increase to fund priority issues such as education and transportation. We do not have to raise most taxes just roll back the inequitable tax breaks this administration has given away. The irony of those who claim to be in step with conservatives of the world is that they would then choose gambling as a way to finance the budget shortfall they created by incredibly poor financial mismanagement. This is a morally bankrupt approach. In a time when the the bankruptcy laws have been made almost impossible for the average person to use they want to make it easier for some to bankrupt themselves chasing a fantasy of easy money. The families of gambling addicts suffer enough without increasing the number of venues that will help feed these poor peoples addictions. Citizens must not be allowed to shuffle the cost of government onto the backs of a few. Taxes are our investment in each other and we must all pay a fair share. The rich and business are getting way to many breaks and this trend must be reversed. If the Governor and legislators were going to make a no new taxes pledge then they should have made better decisions about the tax give away they did which created the budget shortfall we continue to suffer through. Minnesota needs to repeal bad tax breaks not create bad policy by approving state sponsored gambling.
Brian Joyce West Side -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bock, Mary K. Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2005 10:06 PM To: stpaul@mnforum.org Subject: [StPaul] casino proposal I am a journalism student at the University of St. Thomas and I will be doing a piece on the Gov. Pawlenty's casino expansion legislation. I am interested to know what Minnesota residents think about the proposal. I have posted a few questions below and would appreciate any feedback and/or discussion. Pawlenty's budget depends on $200 million in the next 2 years from casino revenue. Is this feasible? Is it the proper function of government to be running or profiting from gambling? The democrats budget would rely on almost $900 in tax increases. Which budget proposal do you think Minnesota residents would prefer--this or Pawlenty's? A 2-casino proposal for Canterbury Park in Shakopee was just passed by the Jobs and Economic Opportunity Committee. Will this pass the House and Senate during the current legislative session? Why or why not? Pawlenty predicts positive economic effects to result from casino expansion, however, nothing has been mentioned about the social effects of having metro-area casinos. Are the social effects of gambling and casinos something to consider in this proposal? Why/why not? What would be the benefits/disadvantages of putting a casino in the Mall of America? Overall, what is your opinion about state-sponsored casinos and gambling expansion in Minnesota? Thank you in advance, Kate Bock University of St. Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ------------------------------------------------- JOIN the St. Paul Issues Forum TODAY: http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/ ------------------------------------------------- POST MESSAGES HERE: stpaul@mnforum.org To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/ ------------------------------------------------- JOIN the St. Paul Issues Forum TODAY: http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/ ------------------------------------------------- POST MESSAGES HERE: stpaul@mnforum.org To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
