Florida governor given 60 days to negotiate compact

Thursday, June 28, 2007  

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) has 60 days to negotiate a Class III compact with the Seminole Tribe, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said in a letter.

If an agreement isn't reached, the Interior Department will issue procedures so the tribe can engage in Class III gaming, Kempthorne wrote on June 22 [PDF]. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act authorized federal involvement if the state and tribe reach an impasse.

The tribe has been trying to negotiate a deal ever since state voters approved slot machines in November 2004. But efforts with former governor Jeb Bush (R) failed.

Crist has said he is open to a compact. The tribe is willing to share revenues from slot machines.

Get the Story:
U.S. sets deadline for state to reach pact with Seminoles on Vegas-style slot machines (The South Florida Sun-Sentinel 6/28)
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U.S. gives governor 60 days to resolve Seminole gambling (The Miami Herald 6/27)
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Interior gives Florida tribal slots deadline (The Palm Beach Post 6/28)
Feds Set Deadline on Fla. Gambling Deal (AP 6/27)