Editorial: Deja vu with Seminole gaming compact

Monday, January 14, 2008  

"It feels like déjà vu all over again.

Florida political leaders promise that tax money from gambling will go toward educating our children at under-funded schools and universities, with the state reaping billions in revenue.

That makes approving a pro-gambling measure the right thing to do.

Sound familiar?

It should, because that was the pitch from Tallahassee lawmakers that led voters to approve the Florida Lottery in 1986. But the two decades since then have proven citizens were conned.

Now comes Gov. Charlie Crist's promise most of the money from the gambling deal he recently cut with the Seminole Tribe of Florida will go to schools.

The agreement will give the state an immediate $50 million from the tribe's seven casinos. In all, it guarantees about $100 million a year for 25 years.

Considering how lawmakers love to play it fast and loose, we're far from convinced the promised support for schools will happen. Many others agree."

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Our view: Don't gamble with education (Florida Today 1/14)