Posted on 07/03/2008 9:51:35 AM PDT by Brandonmark
Florida Supreme Court Overturns Indian Gaming Deal
The Tribe Has Already Given The State $50-Million As Part Of The Negotiations
TALLAHASSEE (CBS4); The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday has overturned an agreement Gov. Charlie Crist signed with the Seminole Tribe to expand gambling at its casinos. The court ruled that the governor doesn't have the constitutional authority to enter into the agreement that allows Las Vegas-style slot machines, black jack and other card games at facilities like the Hard Rock Casinos in Tampa and Hollywood.
Attorney's for the Florida House of Representatives made their case before the Supreme Court earlier this year, arguing against a gambling compact made between Gov. Crist and the Seminole Tribe of Indians.
An attorney for the Florida House, Jon Mills, aruged that Crist violated the Florida Constitution when he agreed with the tribe to expand gambling in the state.
But attorneys for the governor and the tribe argued that Crist was only acting on existing state and federal law.
Mills also argued that any agreement made by the governor should be approved by the legislature. But the attorney for Crist said the governor was under a federal order to negotiate with the tribe.
The deal between the tribe and the state allows Vegas-style slots machines, and various types of card games available to gamblers in Seminole casinos stretched across Florida. In return, the state would get $50-million immediately and $100-million guaranteed in the first year. In the second year, the state is guaranteed $125-million and at least $150 million in the third year.
Tax dollars from gambling would be funneled into a state education fund.
Courts are running our damn country now. It gets more ridiculous by the day. If the people don’t like it they can vote out the governor and legislators. Now, we have a few black robed dicatators in each state and in Washington.
Not sure if a Indian Reservation is considered a ‘foreign power’. If they are, Congress would have to give permission to Florida or already have a established relationship.
Our local morning drive talk show host calls the FL SC “The Black Robed Taliban”..............
The Gulfstream Casino at Hollywood Beach (non-Indian casino) must be overjoyed at the ruling.
The state of Florida doesn’t already take in enough revenue without gambling? Here in Texas we have no state income taxes either nor casinos (just the lottery) nor the amount of tourism that Florida gets however we run surplus in state revenues—albeit property taxes are a bit high.
Congress has given the states the power to do this. The question is whether or not the governor can do this without the approval of the legislature.
I believe this gives Congress the sole authority...........
You state legislature meets only every two years or so. Am I correct? They can’t make mischief when not in session.............
In California, the lottery was created to help the schools. The politicians stole every cent of the money and used it for other things.
They did it by reducing the money given to the schools by the state by the amount brought in by the lottery.
It will be stolen in Florida also.
This article says they already got 50 million, then down farther it says the will get 50 million. Which is it?
In my town they got 2 million up front, and gobs of money in the back pockets of the city council members that made the deal in a secret back room meeting.
The casino in my area is at least 6 years behind schedule thanks to the citizens who circled the wagons.
Does not seem an unreasonable FL SC ruling. If and when the Fl. legislatures approve and then the black robed tyrants throw it out becomes an issue.
Actually, 5 black robed dictators in Washington have control of our entire life. They rule with their political philosophy and use the Constitution for toilet paper.
We already have the lottery that was supposed to do the same thing here. As a former teacher, I only saw it used to replace the monies already alloted and those monies went elsewhere.
Yep, that’s their tactic.
Somewhere for the lowest income people (many on the gov dole) to spend their (our) money. Fool’s Tax.
Red.... I had to look it up for the info.
“The Legislature of the State of Texas, operating under the biennial system, convenes its regular sessions at noon on the second Tuesday in January of odd-numbered years. The maximum duration of a regular session is 140 days. The governor is given authority under the state constitution to convene the legislature at other times during the biennium.”
So I say, eliminate all reservations and make them 100% part of America, subject to 100% of all laws, rules, and regulations. Or make them 100% foreign countries.
It was. We ran a very successful lottery head out of the state because the "public" (editorial pages) were so mad at the lottery for the funding shortage for education. Yep, the legislature pulled all the existing funds and spent the money elsewhere since the lottery was doing such a good job of generating money. The "people" got torqued off because the lottery was supposed to supplement educational spending but nobody could find the increase. Therefore it had to be the lottery's fault. The legislature got off scott-free but they did it all.
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