DeKruif: Racino Can Support New Jobs, Schools and Help Fund Vikings Stadium

Editor's note: The following is from Sen. Al DeKruif (R-District 25), who represents Northfield.

Because the Minnesota Vikings are a social and financial asset to our state, many political and business leaders are working to find a solution to keeping them in our state, as well as supporting economic growth and jobs in the private sector. Racino is the answer to both questions.

Gambling in Minnesota – like it or not – is here to stay. Racino is a option for Minnesota that already exists, and without a major expansion or creation of a new site can be used as a source of income to both pay back the school financing shift and provide a source of income for a new stadium for the Vikings and other events.

Minnesota is trying to climb out of a recession. Racino and a new stadium would be a shot in the arm for construction trades, for private businesses that operate around the stadium, and for Minnesota’s large agricultural and equine industry that works with Canterbury and Running Aces.