Pawlenty wants state to get $350 million from Indian casinos

by Cathy Wurzer, Minnesota Public Radio

Gov. Tim Pawlenty has settled on a specific amount of money he wants Minnesota's Indian casinos to send to the state: $350 million a year. The governor sent tribal leaders a letter asking for that amount in exchange for a guarantee of exclusive gambling rights in the state for a negotiated length of time. The letter also says he wants to meet with tribal leaders next week to discuss his proposal which would send large amounts of Indian casino money to the state for the first time. The head of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, John McCarthy, calls the $350 million figure "laughable." Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Gov. Pawlenty's Chief of Staff Dan McElroy.