MinnPost - Gambling expansion as part of Minnesota budget fix? Don't bet against it, some legislators say

MinnPost - Gambling expansion as part of Minnesota budget fix? Don't bet against it, some legislators say: "Gambling expansion as part of Minnesota budget fix? Don't bet against it, some legislators say
Analysis by Doug Grow Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Electronic pull tab machines might be part of the elusive end game that helps bring the legislative session to a close.

The possibility that the slot machine-like games might be part of a compromise between struggling DFLers and a governor committed to no new taxes was raised by two Republican representatives Monday afternoon. Those machines, which could be installed in bars across the state, could raise as much as $800 million to $1 billion a biennium, according to Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Delano, and Rep. Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, assistant minority leader.

Emmer and Zellers appropriately sit in the back row of the House chamber.

'Back benchers,' said Zellers.

'It's good to be in a spot where nobody can sneak in behind us,' said Emmer."