Slots Decision Delayed

Many have been waiting to see what the decision by the Supreme Court would be in the state of Florida as it pertains to the state constitutional amendment for allowing slots in South Florida. Various groups say that the amendment should be invalidated as petition signatures were forged and that makes the petitions illegal.

However, the justices have decided to hold off on a decision on the case until after another one has been settled. They want a trial held on the allegations of illegal signatures on the petitions, and they want to know the extent of the fraud that was perpetrated before they rule on the case. Justice Barbara Pariente wrote, “It is preferable that the facts of this case be developed regarding the allegations and pervasiveness of the fraud before we articulate a rule of law.”

However, supporters of the slots say that it does not matter whether the petitions were valid or not, as they say that it wasn’t the petitions that got the voters to approve the slots, it was the voters themselves. All the petitions did was get it on the ballot – and if residents did not want slots they would have voted against them.

However, the state and anti-slots groups say that to let it go would be rewarding fraud, and that the amendment should be stricken if they do not have the right number of names on the ballot after all of the fraudulent ones are removed. Supporters of the slots say that to remove the amendment would simply be taking money out of the state’s public schools as that is where a large portion of the money is going.





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