Racino Railed . . . for now!

While butting heads with the members of the Senate Gov Ops Committee, Sen Sparks (DFL-Ausitn) chose to regroup rather then be defeated:

Horse-racing interests on Wednesday renewed their long-shot effort to establish casinos at two Minnesota race tracks, hoping to convince reluctant legislators that slot machine profits could ease budget deficits.

But by the end of the evening, it was clear there weren't enough votes to pass the bill out of a Senate committee. Its author, Sen. Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin, withdrew the proposal before it could be defeated, with plans to attach it as an amendment to a key piece of legislation on the Senate floor later in the session.

The need for revenue is great, and this particular stream is one that has true bipartisan support.

House DFL Sponsored

Total Authors /CoAuthors
DFL 7
GOP 12

Juhnke ; Buesgens ; Hackbarth ; Doty ; Haws ; Holberg ; Cornish ; Brod ; Nornes ; Beard ; Hoppe ; Demmer ; Garofalo ; Peppin ; Gunther ; Benson ; Olin ; Solberg ; Otremba

Senate Companion

DFL -4
GOP - 1

Sparks ; Robling ; Scheid ; Langseth ; Metzen

That is a total author breakdown of 13 GOPers and 11 DFLers. At a time where it is difficult to find common ground anywhere in this splintered [political environment, this is just short of amazing. And Sen Sparks must know that a stacked committee may be a tough haul, but maneuvering his way to a vote by the entire body might just have a chance:

Sparks and Day said the proposal could be resurrected as an amendment to bills dealing with rural development, jobs, education or early childhood education.

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