Feb
8
2010
Constitutional law students will remember the "switch in time that saved the nine" -- the U.S. Supreme Court's abrupt turn-around on its approach to federal economic legislation in the 1930s that staved off FDR's efforts to pack the Court with additional justices who would support his "New Deal" legislation. Are we seeing a "switch in time to save the dime" on gambling policy in Florida? The state legislature has obstructed efforts to reach a new compact with the Seminoles, but the legislature's anti-gambling stance may give way to economic pressure.Florida
Perspectives from Florida
Jan
27
2010
An editorial in the Tampa Tribune takes Florida's legislature to task for failing to approve the revised compact negotiated between the Seminoles and Gov. Charlie Crist. And rightly so -- as we've said numerous times, Florida's continued obstructionism flies in the face of IGRA's requirements and Congress's intent, not to mention tribal sovereignty and respectful government-to-government relations.But it seems to always be about money, rather than legal duties, mutual respect, or even what's right.
Florida Legislature Rejects Compact
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 . . . ???
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
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?
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
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.
