Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s proposals to expand gambling in Minnesota came between a couple of Annandale businessmen at a town hall meeting with state legislators last week. The polite difference of opinion between Kermit Lundeen and John Bishop occurred as Sen. Steve Dille (R-Dassel) and Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City) discussed what’s happening in the Legislature with about 15 citizens at the Homestyle Country Cafe on Saturday, April 16. The legislators also talked about a proposal to clean up state waterways and a bill that would ban same-sex marriage. Lundeen, of Lundeen Bros. Ford, asked whether the casino bill was dead for good after a Senate committee that Dille sits on voted down Pawlenty’s proposals. Dille voted against both. According to one bill, the state and three northern Indian tribes would open a casino in the Twin Cities metro area. A “racino” bill would install slot machines at Canterbury Park race track. Dille said he’s sure the gambling initiative will be back, most likely the racino proposal. “I think it’s terrible,” Lundeen, a Republican, said. “Are we talking about running our government on casinos?” Minnesota is going to become another Las Vegas, he said later. Lundeen also said Republicans, who have promoted family values, are getting blamed for the gambling proposals. According to Urdahl, Pawlenty is saying the state can cut spending increases for things like subsidized health care and education, or raise taxes – which he won’t allow – or go to gambling for more money. Governments already are spending money that comes from gambling and, whether the state wants to stop it or not, gambling is expanding in Minnesota. The governor’s position is that the state should have an equitable part in the gambling industry, Urdahl said.He doesn’t know if a gambling bill can pass in the House. “If not, we’re going to have to find another $200 million someplace else.” Bishop, of Lakedale Telecommunications, said he respects Lundeen and is a staunch Republican too. But “people aren’t going to be able to buy a house” because of what’s happened to property values, he said. He would rather see people gambling than not be able to afford a home, Bishop said. He added there has to be a better solution than expanding gambling, but he doesn’t know what it is. Racino bill Urdahl said later he expects the racino bill with one of the northern tribes involved to come to the House floor before the session ends in late May. He favors that because Canterbury Park already has gambling on horses, and he doesn’t see the proposal adding significantly to the number of gamblers in Minnesota. Urdahl said he believes the majority of people in Minnesota and his district, 18B, favors increasing gambling, though there’s a significant segment in the district that is strongly against gambling. Dille told the meeting that the proposed Clean Water Legacy Act would collect $36 per year per septic system or per household throughout the state, and businesses would pay more than that. What’s been called the “toilet tax” would appear on rural residents’ property tax bills and on the water bills of homeowners with hookups to municipal water and sewer. The $80 million it would generate per year would be used to help small cities upgrade their sewage treatment plants and to more adequately fund existing water quality programs. Annandale and Maple Lake are mentioned frequently in connection with the legislation, Dille said, because of a lawsuit by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy challenging the discharge permit issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for the cities’ proposed treatment plant. While most people wouldn’t argue that something needs to be done about clean water, the controversial part is how to fund it, Urdahl said. “Will it be the toilet tax, or will it be something else?” The funding mechanism hasn’t been figured out yet, he said. Roger Rimpy of Annandale suggested putting a surcharge on everyone’s income tax instead. Dille also explained that the Defense of Marriage Amendment is a bill providing for a statewide vote to amend the state constitution to define marriage as a male-female contract. Civil unions But the controversial part of it would prohibit civil unions for same-sex relationships. Urdahl said the amendment has passed the House but not the Senate. “Dean Johnson does not want to bring that bill up this year,” Dille said, referring to the Senate majority leader.The Democrats won’t vote for a civil union ban, he said. A compromise, Dille said, would be to just define marriage and let civil unions be available. In other discussion: – Bishop complained about the inequity of putting numerous fees like 911 and hearing impaired charges on phone company bills and making their customers pay for it while competitors like cable and cell phone companies don’t have those charges. “Put us on the same playing field,” he said. Urdahl said he would look into it. – Judy Martin of Annandale, a court-appointed guardian, told the legislators the Vulnerable Adult Act isn’t strong enough to protect vulnerable adults from being exploited and needs to be strengthened.
