Minnesota State Senator Chuck Wiger has introduced legislation that will approve video gambling machines in bars and airport terminals with a portion of the revenue going to education. I am concerned about this legislation for two reasons.
First, I acctually support legalizing some forms of gambling in the state. I also support increased funding for the education of our students. What I don't support is tying those two issues together. If the goal is to increase state sponsored gambling, I'd rather vote on that issue than tie it to some emotional heartstring yanking education plan. Minnesota has always tied gambling to emotional issues, and once approved, has just as quickly pulled the funding. Let me vote on gambling on its own merits, not some contrived emotional issue. Fortunatly, I think the Senator's goal is to increase funding for education. This is a noble and worthy goal that should not be sullied by tying it to expanded gambling. The messages that could be derived from this are scary.
Minnesota gambles on its student's education.
Students: When it comes to gambling, do as we say, not as we do.
I'm not addicted to gambling, I'm an avid financial supporter of our public schools.
The ends DO justify the means.
Last, I don't believe the Senator's bill would be the end story on gambling and educational funds. Let me explain. In 1988, 57% of Minnesotan's approved a state lottery for the bennefit of our state's "natural resources." The next legislative session, the lottery was created with a bill splitting net revenue evenly between natural resources and the eceonomic development of out-state Minnesota. One session later, in 1990, the legislature cut the out-state revenue share to 25% and the natural resources share to 40%. The resulting 35% share was allocated to the state's general fund. Today, more than 50% of net lottery revenue goes into the general fund.
How long would this law survive in-tact before a state budget crisis "requires" our legislators to make the "hard decision" to reroute these funds to the general fund?
Please don't let the state gamble with our student's education. Contact Senator Wiger and ask him to find other ways to protect education funding.
