By James Call
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-894559.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – Legislative leaders say the state will reap at least $1.5-billion over five years from an agreement with the Seminole Tribe. Representative Bill Galvano and Senator Dennis Jones engaged in a day long negotiation Friday with the Seminoles to craft the agreement. It culminates a discussion begun by Governor Charlie Crist in November 2007.
When Governor Crist presented the Legislature with that first compact, lawmakers said no. Almost three years later, at the start of the Legislative Session, Senator Dennis Jones, Chairman of the Regulated Industries Committee, hedged his bets about gambling. Jones was discussing different avenues the Legislature could take to get millions of dollars of gambling money to balance a state budget.
"I have a shell bill that could match up with the House, should we see some activity in the House."
Jones had just guided a gambling bill through the committee with as much flair as a supply manager checking inventory. The chairman said the committee had produced good bills in years past and saw them go nowhere. Jones, noting that the House had a committee to specifically negotiate with the Tribe, said the Senate was on record and now would wait for the House to make a move.
"With the budget the way it is and more and more of the public leaving the state for gaming, I mean, we have already identified over three-million people that leave the state right now in trains, planes, and buses just for gaming. If they feel that they'd like to keep that revenue in the state, then we're giving them an opportunity to do that."
Friday night, the House made a $1.5-billion move; a proposal with a bigger upfront payment than the one negotiated by the Governor or proposed by the Senate. The Times/Herald Tallahassee bureau said the tentative agreement was reached after day-long negotiations involving the Tribe, Jones, lawyers representing the Governor, and Representative Bill Galvano, the House's point man on negotiations. Galvano has consistently maintained since 2007 that the talks with the Seminoles were about more than money. Here he is in February.
"You're talking about changing policy within the state of Florida, okay? This is much more than a fiscal issue. This is an issue that is going to establish precedence."
The plan gives the Tribe exclusive rights to offer black jack and other banked card games at casinos in Broward, Collier and Hillsborough counties. The Seminoles would pay the state a billion dollars over five years for the exclusive right to the games. All seven tribe casinos would continue to offer Las Vegas style slot machines and make payments to the state for twenty years.
The day long talks were the first time lawmakers negotiated directly with the Legislature. Two weeks ago, Governor Charlie Crist hinted something was in the works when asked why he was optimistic lawmakers and the Seminoles would reach an agreement before the session ends April 30th.
"Common sense. It really is. It's based upon that, and there's hundreds of millions of dollars just sitting there that we could use for education in the state of Florida for our children, and I can't for the life of me understand why you wouldn't do that."
Negotiators agreed to a way to begin leveling the playing field for pari-mutuels. The plan would allow poker rooms at horse and dog tracks and jai-alai frontons, higher betting limits, and more hours of play. If the Legislature allows pari-mutuels to play blackjack and other banked games, then the Tribe's payments to the state would be reduced, but continue for slot machines. House, Senate and tribal council must still approve the deal before any Seminole gambling money will flow into the state's bank account.
Thursday, House Majority Leader Adam Hasner said the House will not count the money into the state budget until officials sign their names to an agreement.
"This is our third go around at the compact, so it's still a little bit premature to rely on money from a deal that has not been finalized, and that's why we are hesitant about using that money."
Governor Crist's office is working to remove that hesitancy. The agreement was being edited Monday afternoon. Lawmakers will see the proposal's language for the first time Tuesday. Word is they may schedule a signing ceremony Wednesday with the Tribe and key legislators.