House should get over its gaming aversion
By Editorial Staff
Charlotte Sun Herald
© 2009 Sun Coast Media Group
Thursday, April 2, 2009
OUR POSITION: State House the only obstacle to state reaping billions in gambling revenues.
There's no shortage of proposals floating around to bridge Florida's projected $3 billion budget gap.
Add a penny to the state sales tax. Eliminate exemptions to the sales tax and/or tax services such as legal fees and advertising. Combine or eliminate state agencies. Tighten eligibility requirements for state services for the poor, disabled and elderly. Furlough state workers. Close state parks and facilities.
During a crisis such as the one Florida and many states are facing, all options should be on the table. But in Florida, unlike other states, one option is such a no-brainer, we're baffled why the Legislature hasn't already closed the deal.
In November 2007, Gov. Charlie Crist signed a deal with the Seminole Indian tribe to allow expanded gaming, such as blackjack, at its casinos. The Florida Supreme Court ruled that only the Legislature had the power to enter into what was called the Seminole Gaming Compact. The Legislature is currently debating proposals that would authorize Crist to sign a revised compact.
A Senate proposal would generate at least $400 million a year in revenue for the state, plus a sliding percentage of winnings. Revenues could reach up to $1 billion if new games are allowed at tribal casinos and parimutuels.
A House committee looking into the issue is not expected to go as far as the Senate bill. Freshman Rep. Ken Roberson, R-Port Charlotte, said the House wants to renegotiate the compact to "get the best deal out of this."
"Some of us feel like expanding gambling is not the way to go," Roberson said. "I'm listening to the debate. We don't want to fall prey to a short-term fix that will have long-term consequences."
With the clock ticking on this session, the House strategy is clearly to delay any bill to death. It's a head-in-the-sand approach that ignores two things. First, gambling, including the state-run lottery, is not going away. Second, leaving money on the table from existing and expanded gaming at established locations is fiscally irresponsible.
The Seminole Tribe operates seven casinos around the state, including ones in Tampa and Immokalee that attract gamers from our communities. Voters in Broward and Miami-Dade counties approved referendums that allow seven parimutuel facilities, such as dog tracks and jai alai frontons, to offer slot machines. Poker also is allowed at the tracks and frontons.
The onshore gaming is in addition to the cruises-to-nowhere that allow patrons to play Las Vegas-style games, including slots, roulette and craps, once the vessels reach international waters. On top of that millions of cruise ship passengers embark from several Florida ports of call for cruises that also feature gambling. Florida receives no revenue from such gaming activities.
Each year the Legislature has just one job it is required to do, pass a budget. This year that task will be more difficult to accomplish than any time in recent memory. We like to see the House leadership and our own delegation focus on that challenge rather than fret about where and when their constituents and the state's millions of visitors play games of chance.