Bring it on! These tribes have been sticking it to the state for way to long. The Duluth Casino did have a deal with the city to pay back some revenues to be able to open downtown (Fond Du Luth) way back when. Now since 2009 they decide to not pay the city anymore. The city of Duluth has lost around 13 million with the tribes not paying in as agreed.
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/220340/publisher_ID/36/

Sooner or later- this BS needs to end. It is plain wrong. I/we pay our fair share to live in the great United States of America. But for some reason a select few believe that 1837, 1855, whatever year they want to pull up, is still relevant...

When this Racino finally happens (eventually it has to). The Sh*t is goign to hit tha fan. The tribes will try all they can to make things right. It will be a little to late IMO.

The link below makes it REAL easy to send a letter to your representative!

http://racinonow.com/sign-up-now/contact-your-representative

Thanks

-- Edited by RussDaBuss on Tuesday 24th of January 2012 04:24:26 PM

AMEN

Malmo Mike says AMEN



lets get this rockin

The Minnesota Senate seems incapable of doing ANYTHING. Netting issue, Racino, Viking Stadium, Budget, and the list goes on and on.

I thought it was great that they shut the state down! Seems to be the only thing they ever agreed on (besides the raise for themselves they voted on)

Mike Jungbauer and his aide seem to be in our corner, but it'll take enough of the senate to pass the bill. Maybe we all need to be at the senate session when this bill comes up.

wallyhntr1 wrote:

---

Sorry, more ranting... numbers may not be exact but minnesota sold around 3.3 million licenses last year and believe there are 35,000 band members? So, our good ol Aitkin boys get together with the bands and agree to lower the quota for nonnatives while raising the quota for natives... Now lets keep in mind that during angling season- natives can keep 10 walleye of any size and these are counted against the nonnative quota....Am I the only one seeing this as absolute BS??? Isnt that saying natives and nonnatives could go angling, have a great half a year, the nonnative quota gets reached/shut down, while natives can keep on fishing, creating an overharvest against nonnatives? How more racist/unequal can this be???? People want me to respect our DNR when they make decisions like this??? Our DNR continues to put more and more restrictions on us in the name of conservation, and dont do the same for everyone using the lake? Am I way off base here?

---

 I'm with you 100% on this! And WE are the racists!!??

 ;)

Go Racino~~~!

This is a sensible solution for the new stadium proposals and many other critical funding issues. Go baby Go~~~!

We can right the ship yet I believe.

It is time.  

Message sent to Gen Olsen in support of this bill using the Racino website link above. Go Racino!!

http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/143401136.html

 Not happy

Here is the Email I just received-

March 20, 2012

Dear Russ,

As you may be aware, Racino legislation was heard yesterday in the Senate Committee on Innovation and Veterans. Lobbyists for tribal casinos and opponents of gambling (some funded by tribal casinos) flooded the hearing room and won this battle, as the committee voted 5-8 to defeat the bill. But this year's fight is far from over.

Those opposing Racino legislation were:

Sen. John Carlson

Phone: 651-296-4913

E-Mail: sen.john.carlson@senate.mn

Sen. Richard Cohen

Phone: 651-296-5931

E-Mail: Click Here

Sen. Paul Gazelka

Phone:651-296-4875

E-Mail: sen.paul.gazelka@senate.mn

Sen. Barb Goodwin

Phone: 651-296-4334

E-Mail: Click Here

Sen. Jeff Hayden

Phone: 651-296-4261

E-Mail: sen.jeff.hayden@senate.mn

Sen. Ted Lillie

Phone: 651-296-4166

E-Mail: sen.ted.lillie@senate.mn

Sen. Dave Thompson

Phone: 651-296-5252

E-Mail: sen.dave.thompson@senate.mn

Sen. Patricia Torres Ray

Phone: 651-296-4274

E-Mail: Click Here

The existing casinos have more money and lobbyists than we do, but we have the public on our side. The only way we can pass Racino is for our supporters to take action and let these legislators know that the people will hold them accountable for protecting the gaming monopoly instead of voting to create jobs and provide money for education.

We need to let these Senators know that they have taken a position that is against the will of the people. The Racino is one of the most popular proposals at the Capitol - with so much frustration with politics and elections, elected officials need to be informed that we are passionate about our support for Racino.

Above, the e-mail addresses and phone numbers of Senators that voted "no" on the Racino bill yesterday are included so that you can voice your disappointment with their decisions.

Again, the session is far from over and by no means does this spell the end for Racino legislation. In fact, another Racino hearing has been scheduled for 3PM on Thursday in the Senate Committee on Education. Stay tuned for additional updates, but in the meantime, let the Senators that voted "no" know how you feel.

Thanks for your continued support of Racino,

The Racino Now Team

Keep the emails coming all- It appears to be working.

Dear Russ,

Last week, we wrote to inform you that a Racino bill was voted down in the Senate Committee on Government Innovation & Veterans. However, we are happy to report that we have been hearing from legislators and staff that calls and emails are flooding in and that legislators are paying attention to the messages in support of Racino. Additionally, a Racino bill is still being debated by the Senate Education Committee, and a version of the bill is also in several committees in the Minnesota House of Representatives. With that in mind, we need you to KEEP UP THE PRESSURE. Please take a minute to make sure Speaker Zellers understands the importance of this legislation. This legislation will create thousands of jobs and generate funds that can be used to accelerate the repayment of the school shift. Additionally, the future of the horse industry in the State of Minnesota is at stake if this legislation fails to pass. It's time for Minnesota to improve the horse industry in the same way as 14 other states already have, by passing Racino.

 You can contact Speaker Zellers in the following ways: Phone: 651-296-5502 E-Mail: rep.kurt.zellers@house.mn

Be sure to ask other Racino supporters to contact Speaker Zellers. Minnesota needs the jobs and the economic activity this legislation will produce. Thanks for your continued support. As a reminder, please be respectful in your communications with your legislators. You are making a difference.

The Racino Now Team

Way To Go Mr Malmo Mike!

If a report is out there that shows money being contributed to whom - I sure want to see it.

I do know the the Mille Lacs Band contributed-550,000.00 last year-2011.

The  Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota) Community contributed 200,000.00 last year -2011.

I am only assuming. But I think 2012 will be another high contribution year trying to keep the sleeping dog down...

You are an absolute idiot!

Your facts are all incorrect.  Read the ruling by your white Federal judges on the agreement with the City of Duluth.  It was boogus to begin with.

Not only does the Tribe not have to pay any share of the gambling proceeds they no longer have to pay rent on a building that sits on Tribal Trust Land.  Again an agreement that was approved by your white Federal judges.

The time you all waste with this would be better spent picking up the beer cans and garbage that has drifted to shore from the "Ice Fishing Sportsmen"

Get your facts right before you make a fool of yourself again.

Why is it always a White's- Versus' you guys deal??

Why all the lobbying?

The west side would be more booming with out Grand Casino there. The west side of Mille Lacs is not in the best of shape their Chief J.

Thanks Tom

TGIF for this encouraging news on Racino.

I have been calling and writing emails.

We must get the playing field level and fund many critical projects.

Cool.

Way to go from MM 

Chief Joseph wrote:

---

You are an absolute idiot!

Your facts are all incorrect.  Read the ruling by your white Federal judges on the agreement with the City of Duluth.  It was boogus to begin with.

Not only does the Tribe not have to pay any share of the gambling proceeds they no longer have to pay rent on a building that sits on Tribal Trust Land.  Again an agreement that was approved by your white Federal judges.

The time you all waste with this would be better spent picking up the beer cans and garbage that has drifted to shore from the "Ice Fishing Sportsmen"

Get your facts right before you make a fool of yourself again.

---

 Sounds like ya got some feelings you're not dealing with there, chiefy.

We're doing a little investigating on exactly WHAT is going on with the money from the casinos and what appears to be VERY large political contributions from your tribe, the Fond du Lacs and the Mille Lacs tribe. There's alot of discrepencies going on with lobbying payments recieved by WHITE politicians, who control the laws the WHITE judges have been following.

Let's just hope you've hidden the paper trail through your WHITE lobbyists, or you're going to be the "absolute idiot" that'll be going to jail for illegal influence peddling.

If you'll excuse me, now, I'm going out to pick up beer cans and garbage. Oh, yeah here's some garbage I picked up last year.

Time to keep pushing and stay on them...

24 April 2012

Dear Russ,

We're into the final days of the 2012 Legislative Session and that means that things are beginning to move at a much more rapid pace in St. Paul.

The final weeks of session can be filled with all sorts of different twists and turns so its pretty difficult to predict how the end of session will ultimately play out. However, one thing is for certain, during the final days of this session, we need to find a solution that will grow Minnestoa's equine industry. The best way to achieve growth in this industry is to enhance purses at Minnesota's racetracks.

Racino legislation remains the best option to grow the equine industry and create jobs. However, over the past month, other options have been floated around that have the potential to help Minnesota's equine industry.

Please take a minute to contact both Governor Dayton and your legislators to ask them to support Minnesota's horse industry. Fourteen states are using Racinos to create thousands of jobs and add billions of economic impact - it is time for Minnesota to step up and make the same commitment to this important industry.

Contact information for Gov. Dayton and your legislators can be found below.

Governor Mark Dayton
Phone: (651) 201-3400

http://racinonow.com/sign-up-now/contact-your-representative

Thanks

Only takes a few minutes to do this at the link provided. Strike while the irons hot on this.

Thanks Russ

Thanks Doug,

Thanks Russ,

I went to the link and emailed them again ...we must get this successfully passed and get a level playing field. Take care, MM

wallyhntr1 wrote:

---

several people are receiving responses from senators & state representatives regarding the racino bill- Since these people are responding to us- I highly recommend responding back to them & get their stance on/talk about the gill netting issue...

---

 Exactly what I did.  Here is what I sent back.

Hello Steve

Thank you for the reply. I do appreciate the response.  Seeing how you mention it, I do have another concern. I would assume you have heard about what goes on at Lake Mille Lacs every spring.  The Indian tribes in our area are allowed to commercially net walleye. If you do any research you can find out what that same practice did to Red Lake.  It is quite frankly destroying what is one of the best naturally producing walleye lakes in the world.  I do not want to seem like I am all about bashing American Indians, that is not my stance at all.  I just do not believe any American should be given more rights than any other American. Especially based solely on race.  And especially when that right gives those Americans the right to destroy a natural resource and more than likely ruin a local economy.  That is what is happening in this case. If they continue with this netting the walleye population is going to be reduced to such small numbers that the tourist money is going to leave that area, and that is a major part of the economy there.  It is happening already.  I have heard from a number of people they will not be going there this year because of the reduced slot of fish nonnatives are allowed to keep.  The Minnesota DNR sets that slot limit and I believe they are doing their best to keep the walleye population from crumbling but they are fighting a losing battle.  I know the whole tribal netting thing has gone through the courts and they have said the treaties from the 1800’s hold up.  Somehow that needs to changeand I believe it starts with our elected officials, you.  Something needs to be done to give ALL citizens/Americans equal rights and I hope you can be counted on to make that happen.

Thank you for your time. I know you must be very busy right now, but equal rights for allAmericans is a very important issue and it should always be at the top of the list.

Friends of Mille Lacs:

Here is the email response that I received todaay from State Representative: Carolyn McElfatrick; 

Note: I was asking her to support Racino efforts to 'level the playing field' on tirbal netting as well as  finance projects such as the new stadium proposal....

 --------------------------- from Carolyn -----------------------------------

Hello Mike,

Thank you for your email and opinion on racino.  I appreciate your input. 

As a stand-alone bill, I don't think it will come to a vote in the House because there probably is not enough support for it.  I believe it was added to the stadium bill in the Senate, but that doesn't mean it could survive a House challenge in conference committee.

While I recognize many feel racino and other forms of gambling are a good source of money for the state, there are reliable studies that refute that.  Over half of all money that comes into a facility (54-60%) comes from addicted gamblers.  The social costs that follow are significant and expensive--broken homes with children thrown into poverty, mental illness requiring treatment, a higher rate of suicide, frequently an increase in crime in the area of the facility.  Some estimate that for every dollar to the state, 3 are paid out in related costs.

Again, thank you for writing.

Carolyn 

Carolyn McElfatrick
State Representative, District 3B
545 State Office Building
100 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
St. Paul, MN 55155-1298
651-296-2365

Right on Russ....

The point is:  If we have gambling ~~ let's Level the Playing field ~~ with the Casino's already in operation.

If small stakes gambling is allowed, then no monopoly on it  ~~ when the state has projects that need funding and this will help put those monies to BETTER use. 

We are telling them to level the playing field and she comes up with this answer about the social impact of gambling and ignores the effect of a gambling monopoly.

lutzy wrote:

---

wallyhntr1 wrote:

---

several people are receiving responses from senators & state representatives regarding the racino bill- Since these people are responding to us- I highly recommend responding back to them & get their stance on/talk about the gill netting issue...

---

 Exactly what I did.  Here is what I sent back.

Hello Steve

Thank you for the reply. I do appreciate the response.  Seeing how you mention it, I do have another concern. I would assume you have heard about what goes on at Lake Mille Lacs every spring.  The Indian tribes in our area are allowed to commercially net walleye. If you do any research you can find out what that same practice did to Red Lake.  It is quite frankly destroying what is one of the best naturally producing walleye lakes in the world.  I do not want to seem like I am all about bashing American Indians, that is not my stance at all.  I just do not believe any American should be given more rights than any other American. Especially based solely on race.  And especially when that right gives those Americans the right to destroy a natural resource and more than likely ruin a local economy.  That is what is happening in this case. If they continue with this netting the walleye population is going to be reduced to such small numbers that the tourist money is going to leave that area, and that is a major part of the economy there.  It is happening already.  I have heard from a number of people they will not be going there this year because of the reduced slot of fish nonnatives are allowed to keep.  The Minnesota DNR sets that slot limit and I believe they are doing their best to keep the walleye population from crumbling but they are fighting a losing battle.  I know the whole tribal netting thing has gone through the courts and they have said the treaties from the 1800’s hold up.  Somehow that needs to changeand I believe it starts with our elected officials, you.  Something needs to be done to give ALL citizens/Americans equal rights and I hope you can be counted on to make that happen.

Thank you for your time. I know you must be very busy right now, but equal rights for allAmericans is a very important issue and it should always be at the top of the list.

---

So that is what I sent to him.  This is his response.

Thanks a lot, Mark.  Obviously, this is a tough issue.  Keep up your activism.

Steve 

I’m sorry but that is a ridicules and lame response.   He can’t give any opinion on the issue?  I guess I am going to have to push him a little harder.