Seminole Tribe in talks over disputed compact

Wednesday, November 26, 2008  

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has been meeting with Republican lawmakers in hopes of resolving a dispute over the tribal-sate Class III gaming compact, The Orlando Sentinel reports.

Republican lawmakers went to court to invalidate the compact. But with the tribe now in a multibillion-dollar budget deficit, they are reconsidering their opposition.

"Our budget situation does expedite it," House Speaker Ray Sansom, a Republican who was a plaintiff in the lawsuit, told the paper. "I'm still opposed to expanded gambling, but I'm a realist in we have a looming compact issue we have to address," he said

The tribe already sent a $60 million payment to the state but it is being held in reserve due to the dispute.

Get the Story:
With Florida in hole, lawmakers could fold on Indian casinos deal (The Orlando Sentinel 11/26)