Indian Gaming Now

Compacting

Kathryn Quoted on Compact Politics in Cape Cod Times

Posted by Kathryn Rand | Filed under:
Feb 2 2010
Kathryn's quoted in this Cape Cod Times article on the politics of compact negotiations and tribal-state relations.  In Massachusetts, as the Mashpee Wampanoag continue to pursue Class III gaming, the tribe and the governor are on different sides of another issue -- a wind farm in Nantucket Sound.

A wind farm, of course, is not related to gaming, and under IGRA should not be an issue that enters into compact negotiations.  But politics, unlike law, is not easily compartmentalized into relevant and irrelevant considerations.  Here's what Kathryn said about the possible impact of the tribe's and governor's difference of opinion:

Florida Legislature Rejects Compact

Posted by Kathryn Rand | Filed under:
Jan 15 2010
A special committee of the Florida House of Representatives rejected the new compact negotiated by the Seminoles and Gov. Crist.  The decision marks a possible turning point in Florida tribal-state politics.  Up until now, the tribe has been open to renegotiating what, at least arguably, should have been a done deal -- the long-delayed and duly-entered-into compact that was called into question by the Florida Supreme Court.

Update in Florida: Still Hope . . . ???

Posted by Kathryn Rand | Filed under:
Nov 4 2009
Gov. Crist may have still been hopeful last week, but it looks like the Florida legislature has a different view.  The chair of the state House Gaming Committee predicted that the renegotiated compact would not pass in the state legislature.  Interestingly, the Committee has yet to make its recommendation to the entire House on whether to approve or reject the revised compact.

Florida Legislature Calls for NIGC to Shut Down Seminole Games

Posted by Kathryn Rand | Filed under:
Oct 22 2009
Is it really a surprise that Florida is trying to shut down the Seminoles?  After all, this is the state that infamously stonewalled the Seminoles' efforts to negotiate a Class III compact for nearly two decades.  Florida's stance resulted in the Supreme Court's 1996 decision that "undid" IGRA's compromise of state and tribal authority.  Florida's uncompromising (and arguably illegal, if unlitigable) position also resulted in the politicization of compact "negotiations" nationally.  And so it goes in Florida to this very day.

Slow Down in Florida?

Posted by Kathryn Rand | Filed under:
Sep 14 2009
Slow down.  That's the message from Jeff Atwater, the president of the state senate in Florida.  He says the anticipated special legislative session in October is "highly unlikely."

In a letter to the state's senators, Atwater said that the question of whether to approve the revised compact reached by Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminoles is a "complex issue" requiring "thorough analysis."  Atwater called on the senate to "exercise due diligence to ensure we understand the long-term ramifications of the proposed compact."

Details of the Deal: Revised Compact in Florida

Posted by Kathryn Rand | Filed under:
Sep 3 2009
On the day of the deadline, Florida Governor Charlie Crist inked a revised gaming compact with the Seminoles on Monday.  No surprise, revenue sharing is at the heart of the deal.

The revised compact gives the state a minimum annual payment of $150 million for 20 years, and up to 25% of gaming revenues.  That's expected to be some $6.8 billion in state coffers.  The payments to the state would be earmarked largely for public education.

A New Deal? Fla. Gov. Crist Reaches Revised Compact with Seminole Tribe

Posted by Kathryn Rand | Filed under:
Sep 3 2009
Florida Governor Charlie Crist's revised compact with the Seminole Tribe is coming under scrutiny.  After the Florida Supreme Court invalidated some provisions of the hard-fought original compact, there was something of a political stalemate as the Tribe continued operating its casino games and state officials tried to figure out what to do.

The revised compact provides some exclusivity to the Tribe in exchange for revenue-sharing.  But it's the politics of the deal that are drawing fire.

The state legislature will decide whether to approve the compact, likely in October.  Special interest groups are urging lawmakers to take sides.