Opinion: A better deal with Seminole Tribe

Wednesday, March 11, 2009  

"The Tallahassee Democrat voiced editorial support for a compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, saying it should win the approval of the Legislature.

The South Florida Gaming Coalition agrees with the Democrat that a compact should be ratified, but it disagrees that the now-voided compact, as it stands today, should meet the approval of the Legislature. We also disagree that the issues of the pari-mutuel community and the Seminole Tribe are two separate ones, especially because the compact's impact on the voter-approved pari-mutuels would result in a revenue loss to the state.

We understand the difficult situation the Legislature is in, with declining revenues and looming budget cuts, and we want to help in any way that we can. But the focus of the discussions should not be on what the best deal is for the Seminole Tribe of Florida, or even what the best deal would be for the South Florida pari-mutuels or for the other pari-mutuels across the state.

The focus should be on what the best deal is for Florida and how Florida can maximize state revenues, sustain current jobs and create new ones through a compact and the existing voter-approved pari-mutuels."

Get the Story:
Dan Adkins: State can negotiate a better compact (The Tallahassee Democrat 3/11)