Florida Lawmakers Splitting Slots Hairs

Because ex-Governor Jeb Bush refused to sign a deal with the Seminole Indian Tribe giving them the right to offer Class III slots, once Broward County voted them in the tribe gained the right to have them as well. Negotiations fell through numerous times, and now the U.S. Interior Department has told Florida that they have until September 11th to come up with a solution before they step in and give the tribe what they want.

Many lawmakers say that if they can get the tribe to give them a share of the gambling profits, and they eliminate many of the recent tax cuts that Bush had passed, removing existing sales tax exemptions, and increasing user fees, that they will probably be able to maintain the budget and not have to do drastic cuts in it.

They are currently looking to cut education, health care and elderly programs. They say that they cannot do that for it is unfair to put the problems of the state on the “oldest and youngest, the sickest and poorest and the students” so they have to come up with another plan. They say that they know some things will have to be cut, but with slots nowhere as many.

They say that if they are able to come to an agreement with the tribe, say part of their slots revenue if they allow them to bring in casino games – that they might be able to support most of the programs that they would have to cut. Experts warn that the tribe will probably want exclusivity to the table games, which would rule out tracks and jai alai from getting them later on, but that may be a price the state has to pay.


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