Day resigns from Senate to lobby for gambling

A veteran state lawmaker says he's resigning his Minnesota Senate seat in a month to lobby full time for legislation to expand gambling.

Sen. Dick Day, R-Owatonna, announced today that he'll soon lead a grassroots effort called "Racino Now." The group will try to get legislation passed to allow slot machines and video games at the Canterbury Park and Running Aces horse racing tracks. Day estimated the measure would bring in $125 million a year to the state. And with the state facing a $1.2 billion budget deficit, Day said he's optimistic about its chances.

" I believe that this is the year we can put it over the hill," Day said.

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Day has pushed unsuccessfully for a racino measure before, but he said he never could work on the effort full time.

"I don't have enough time to go legislate 201 legislators, because I have my own senate district, and we're trying to get roads and schools and a whole host of things done," Day said. "So what happens is nobody is actually stayed on it and talked to legislators every single day about this."

Day said the effort is not designed specifically to fund a Vikings stadium, but he said it the revenue could used for that purpose.

"We got money for stadiums, education health care transportation," Day said. "You can move $125 and move it around any way you want."

Day is serving his sixth term. His resignation will require a special election in District 26.

UPDATE

Day claimed that Gov. Tim Pawlenty recently told him he would sign a racino bill if it landed on his desk. Asked about that pledge, Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung offered this written response:

"Gov. Pawlenty has stated many times publicly and privately there isn't enough legislative support to pass gaming legislation and it's also not a road he's interested in going down again," McClung wrote.

UPDATE

Common Cause Minnesota responded to Day's announcement, saying the resignation highlights the need for revolving door legislation. The group wants a two-year waiting period before a former legislator can become a lobbyist.

"When a legislator leaves office to become a lobbyist it only further erodes the public's trust in their elected officials," Executive Director Mike Dean said in a news release. "The public is growing suspicious of elected officials who may use his or her government position to line up a future job by currying favor with special interests. The mere perception of impropriety underlying this type of behavior is detrimental to the public's faith in government."