Push for gambling expansion sputters on the House floor

Attempts to amend an electronic gambling provision onto a gaming
bill put the stop light on Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park,
Friday, May 15 who was standing-in as House Speaker ? Hortman has often
stood in when House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher,
DFL-Minneapolis, is elsewhere.

by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol Reporter

Attempts to amend an electronic gambling provision onto a gaming
bill put the stop light on Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, Friday, May 15 who was standing-in as House Speaker ? Hortman has often
stood in when House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher,
DFL-Minneapolis, is elsewhere.

Hortman ruled twice on questions of germainness ? whether the
gambling amendment actually belonged on the bill ? and twiced rule an
objection to affixing it was legitmate.

An appeal of one ruling produced a close, but supportive 67 to 64 vote.

Rep. Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan, appealed to Hortman to rule that the gambling provision was indeed germain.

"And you, Madam Speaker, will be the person in the State of
Minnesota who leads,? Buesgens said of Hortman's status in solving the
state budget challenge.

But to no avail.

Rep. Robin Brown, DFL-Albert Lea, who brought up the gambling amendment said she did so at the behest of the American Legion.

"There's a $1 billion (in gambling revenue) sitting out there,? she said.

A Governor's Office spokesman today said Gov. Tim Pawlenty is not interested in going down the road of gambling.

The govenor has said the same thing previously.