Governor Covers For Lawmakers Again In Seminole Gambling Issue

Governor Charlie Crist may be the only reason that the Seminole Indians have not as of yet walked away from negotiations with the state of Florida involving a new gambling compact. While some lawmakers in Tallahassee prepare for a war with the Seminoles, Crist remains an ally of both sides.

The governor has wanted nothing more than to have the Seminoles help bridge budget gaps by giving the state hundreds of millions of dollars for the right to allow blackjack and Vegas-style slots at their casinos. He has twice now successfully negotiated compacts with the Seminoles.

Again on Monday, Crist was playing the role of friend to the Seminoles. he made an appearance at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Each time he was introduced, he received a standing ovation.

The ovation was a result of Crist not pulling any punches with the Seminoles while negotiating. He is the one politician that has entered the negotiations that the Seminoles can trust.

As for the rest of the legislators, they are holding the Seminoles hostage. They sent Crist to negotiate a compact earlier this year, and when he came back with a deal, they turned their back on the governor.

Lawmakers are now preparing to take the case federal. If this happens, the state may be engaging in a game of Russian roulette. If they lose at the federal level, the Seminoles would get their blackjack and other Vegas-style gambling games without having to pay the state anything.

The lawmakers insist they are right and that the Seminoles are operating these games illegally at their casinos. These are the same lawmakers who turned away Governor Crist's first compact with the Seminoles back in December of 2007.

The reason for them having the original compact voided? They were not involved in the decision making process. The lawmakers appealed to the Supreme Court and had the compact voided because they felt the governor did not have the authority to negotiate with the Seminoles.

One of the reasons that Crist is still upbeat about the compact being completed is because he simply has a better understanding of what the compact means. While lawmakers make political moves such as blocking a special session to discuss the compact, the governor continues to extend his hand to the Seminoles.

Lawmakers say they need time to dissect the compact. They have now had over two years to become knowledgeable on the subject. They have failed to do so. Instead, they have made the process of signing the compact much tougher than it needed to be.

Governor Crist has the answers that could ease lawmakers' concerns, all they have to do is ask. That may be too much to ask, however, from a group that ants full control, even when it is better to give that control up and let people that understand the issue determine the outcome.

October 27, 2009
Posted By Larry Rutherford
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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