By Sascha Cordner
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-996640.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – Florida business leaders and elected officials are battling over bringing destination resort casinos to South Florida. As Sascha Cordner reports, business groups like Associated Industries of Florida are squaring off against other groups like the Florida Chamber of Commerce as well as all the members of the Cabinet, except the Governor himself.
Recently, a business group called Associated Industries of Florida launched a TV ad, promoting the South Florida casino bill as a "jobs bill."
"A question for our leaders in Tallahassee. If there was a way to create 100,000 jobs, quality jobs, private sector jobs, would you do it? That opportunity exists now with the destination resort proposal before you? Destination resorts can put Florida on the road to economic recovery."
The bill is being pushed by Representative Erik Fresen of Miami and his Republican colleague, Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff of Fort Lauderdale.
Since they filed the casino bill, state elected officials and business groups are split down the middle and have taken sides.
While pro-casino business groups, like AIF, are using ads to promote bringing casinos to South Florida, the opposing side now has some high profile GOP backers.
"I'm here to say as a former member of the state House in Congress, I have consistently opposed an expansion of gambling in the state of Florida."
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam says his opposition extends beyond casinos:
"I've been very clear about my concerns about the ambiguity in our sweepstakes laws, which have allowed for the proliferation of internet cafes next to Tae Kwon Do Studios, where kids are frequently in and out of them."
For Attorney General Pam Bondi, it's the link between casinos with criminal activity, specifically the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa.
"This isn't something I did lightly. I went and I spoke personally to many, many law enforcement officers, and in Hillsborough County, many of the last drug trafficking cases that they made, the money was laundered through the casino. So, that is a prime way to launder money in illegal drug cases."
Florida's Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater has also stated he too is opposed to gambling. And some business groups, like Florida Chamber of Commerce are adding their voice as well.
The group's president Mark Wilson says Florida's future needs to be protected, as well as Florida's family-friendly brand. He says he does not want lawmakers and residents alike believing what he calls the "lie" touted by the world's largest casino companies that want to come to Florida:
"Florida is already on its way to being number one in job creation, in educational outcomes, and number one in high wage jobs; At the Florida Chamber of Commerce, we believe that this scheme to make Florida home to world's largest casinos will hurt Florida's economy and is nothing more than a bad bet for Florida And, we believe what happens in Vegas should stay in Vegas."
But, Brewster Bevis, with the Associated Industries of Florida, is not inclined to agree.
In addition to his organization's ad campaign heard earlier, Bevis cites a recent Forbes Magazine article that ranked Miami as the worst place in the U-S to find a job. So, he says the proposal to build destination resort casinos in South Florida will "turn pink slips into paychecks."
"Building and operating three-destination resort facilities in South Florida will put paychecks in the hands of 80,000 to 100,000 Floridians. The destination resort industry could be the largest job creator our state has seen in a long time. These are high-quality well-paying jobs with benefits that can provide good living and a good career for thousands upon thousands of Floridians."
Other groups coming out in favor of the bill include Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida, the Florida Transportation Builders' Association, and Latin Builders Association.
So far, Governor Rick Scott has not yet taken an official position on the casino bill.
The casino bill is still getting revamped. Its most recent workshop had some lawmakers wanting include a casino resort in the Tampa Bay area as well. Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff, one of the bill's sponsors, says though she's not promising anything, lawmakers will see a new and improved South Florida casino bill when session starts in January.