From: FGA
President Phil Ruotolo
The Florida Senate update by Alisa Snow and Lana Juarez: The Senate was
a quiet this week, with the Senate taking a holiday break.
However, we have a busy schedule
for Week 6. On Monday, the Senate Regulated Industries Committee takes up a
bill that would authorize video lottery terminals.
The bill (SB 2434) by Sen. Steve
Geller includes language that would require the racetracks to have a “binding
written agreement” with the thoroughbred horse owners “governing the payment of
purses on live thoroughbred racing.” According to the bill, the agreement “may
direct” payment of purse revenues from wagering or gaming.
WE NEED SIMILAR LANGUAGE for
greyhounds. We need you to contact the committee members listed below by 1 p.m. Monday and tell them the following:
- You are writing/calling them about SB 2434, Sen.
Steve Geller’s bill authorizing video lottery terminals.
- This bill is very important to Florida;
it would bring in millions of dollars of needed revenue.
- This bill must include language that requires VLT
permit holders to have written, binding agreements with the Florida
Greyhound Association “governing the payment of purses on live greyhound
racing.”
- Similar legislation is already in law for slot
machine permit holders and thoroughbred horse owners and breeders.
- This would have NO financial impact to the state of Florida.
- It would, however, have a huge impact to the
greyhound industry. It would give greyhound kennel owners the ability to
negotiate a fair, reasonable purse-sharing agreement with the tracks,
which will bring in millions of dollars in revenue each year from VLTs.
Please contact ONLY the senator
who lives near you.
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If you live or have kennels in:
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Please contact:
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In Tallahassee
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AND by email
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Baker, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Jefferson,
Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Madison, Marion, Suwannee, Taylor
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Argenziano, Nancy
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850-487-5017
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argenziano.nancy.s03@flsenate.gov
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Charlotte, Glades, Hendry, Lee, Palm Beach counties
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Aronberg, Dave
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850-487-5356
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aronberg.dave.S27@flsenate.gov
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Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas counties
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Fasano, Mike
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850-487-5062
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fasano.mike.S11@flsenate.gov
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Broward County
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Geller, Steven
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850-487-5097
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geller.steven.S31@flsenate.gov
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Brevard, Indian River, Osceola, St. Lucie counties
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Haridopolos, Mike
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850-487-5056
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haridopolos.mike.S26@flsenate.gov
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Duval, Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, Volusia counties
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Hill, Tony
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850-487-5024
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hill.tony.S01@flsenate.gov
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Duval, Flagler, Nassau, St. Johns, Volusia counties
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King, Jim
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850-487-5030
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king.james.S08@flsenate.gov
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Broward County
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Rich, Nan
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850-487-5103
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rich.nan.S34@flsenate.gov
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Clay, Duval, Nassau, St. Johns counties
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Wise, Stephen
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850-487-5027
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wise.stephen.S05@flsenate.gov
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The Florida House by Jack Cory: In the Florida House this week there were
2 days of intense Council meetings. The House took Monday and Tuesday off for
the Jewish Holidays and Friday for Good Friday.
On Wednesday and Thursday many of
the Councils met. (These are like the full committees that many of you may remember.)
The Council that will handle all
Pari-mutuel legislation is the
Council on Jobs &
Entrepreneurship, chaired by Representative
Ron Reagan R-Sarasota. They did
not meet this week.
The Committee on Business Regulation is finished with their meetings
for the Session, but its Chairman,
Representative Carlos
Lopez-Cantera
will continue to play a key role in all pari-mutuel Legislation for the
rest of the Session.
Representative Reagan and Representative Lopez-Cantera has
called a meeting of all House Pari-mutuel Lobbyist for Tuesday morning.
Representative Lopez-Cantera held a meeting with all Pari-mutuel
lobbyists several weeks ago and encouraged them to work together and negotiate
a settlement to the VLT bill by using the Horse contract language as a minimum
starting point. Since then Greyhound Track Lobbyist have been working in the
Senate to undermine the House Bills.
If the Tracks are serious about passing
VLTs this year, this will be the week for them to come to the table. If not this
year, next year may be too late since it will be an election year.
The House Council on Jobs & Entrepreneurship
chaired by Representative Ron Reagan
R-Sarasota will meet Thursday morning. The House does not announce agendas
until 2 days before the meeting. Therefore the Council Agenda will be posted on
line at 4:30 pm on Tuesday April 10th.
For information on the Florida
House you can go to http://www.myfloridahouse.gov.
When using the web page, select the appropriate date to view meeting schedules.
