Casino gambling, a top legislative priority for Gov. Tim Pawlenty that for months was a key element of his budget, is likely to resurface in the special legislative session that began early this morning.
Rep. Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan, the sponsor of a bill that would put a state-operated casino at the Canterbury Park racetrack, said Monday that he planned to re-introduce the bill soon.
Despite a strong Senate committee vote against the Canterbury plan in April and unsuccessful attempts by House Republican leaders to find enough votes to approve it, Buesgens predicted that lawmakers might yet be drawn to the lure of $200 million or more in gaming licensing fees.
But legislators, both Democrats and Republicans, have so far given little indication that a majority in either the House or the Senate will vote of a casino.
Pawlenty, in his latest gambling proposal, backed two state-operated casinos: one a partnership between the state Lottery and the owners of Canterbury, the other a partnership between the Lottery and one or more American Indian tribes.
Both casinos would be built at the track.
On Friday, when Pawlenty offered to support a 75-cents-a-pack cigarette fee, the two-casino plan was one of four policy initiatives he asked Senate Democrats to consider as part of a package deal.
Two other gambling issues were left unresolved in the regular session: a House-passed a 15 percent tax on Canterbury's poker games and a proposal to allow Canterbury to add 40 tables to the card club.
