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Capitol View®
Tom Scheck

Gambling for schools

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DFL Sen. Chuck Wiger issued a news release this afternoon saying he would offer a bill that would allow slot machines in bars and the two metropolitan airports. He said he'll use that money for schools. Here's the release:

State Sen. Chuck Wiger announced that he will introduce legislation on

Monday, Feb. 9 that allows video slot machines in bars and the Lindbergh

and Humphrey terminals of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International

Airport. The proceeds of the machines will go to charitable gambling

organizations and Minnesota's education system.

"This legislation will aid our state on two different fronts," said

Sen. Wiger. "Not only will this help our entire education system, but

it will also offer needed funding to great organizations like the

American Legion and VFW."

Revenue collected from the slot machines, equal to 28 percent of the

proceeds received from the operation of video lottery terminals, will be

split equally among early childhood education, k-12 education, and a

higher education scholarship that will be awarded to students receiving

a 3.0 grade average or better in college.

"Of course, the slot machines would be optional," said Sen. Wiger.

It is estimated that 3,200 establishments across the state would be

allowed to operate video slot machines if they chose to do so. Based on

that estimate, the annual proceeds would total $1.1 billion statewide.

"This session we will review several ideas to address our state's

critical budget situation," said Sen. Wiger. "My proposal is now on

the table and I look forward to getting feedback as we consider a

variety of options."

Senate co-authors of the legislation include Senators Linda Scheid,

James Metzen, Dan Sparks, and Dan Skogen. The chief author of the House

companion bill is Rep. Robin Brown.

-30-

I'm trying to see if anyone has a figure on how much this would raise over the next two years.

As I've reported earlier, gambling is one of the many revenue raisers that could be on the table this year to erase a nearly $5 billion deficit.