Seminole gaming compact a thorny political issue

Wednesday, September 2, 2009  

A Class III gaming compact for the Seminole Tribe is about more than gaming in the state of Florida.

Nearly all of the major players in the debate have bigger political aspirations. Gov. Charlie Crist (R), the first governor in the state's history to reach a deal with the tribe, is running for U.S. Senate.

One of the main critics of the deal, is also running for the Senate. Republican state lawmaker Marco Rubio, who was behind a lawsuit that invalidated an earlier version of the compact, is calling the new agreement an "Indian gaming stimulus package."

Attorney General Bill McCollum (R) is running for governor. He has called for the closure of the tribe's casinos, citing the invalidated compact.

"Right now, the Seminole Indians, in my judgment and I think anyone else's who looks at it from a law standpoint, are committing a crime in the state of Florida," said McCollum, The Tallahassee Democrat reported.

Another player is already headed to Washington, D.C. George LeMieux, Crist's former chief of staff, helped negotiate the new compact.

LeMieux will be serving the rest of the term of Sen. Mel Martinez (R), who is stepping down early. Crist appointed LeMieux to the seat.

Get the Story:
Crist: Casino deal will aid schools (The Tallahassee Democrat 9/2)
Gaming Foes Say Seminole Deal is ‘No Slam Dunk’ (The Jacksonville Observer 9/2)
Bonita track owner rips Seminole gaming deal (The Fort Myers News-Press 9/2)
Governor, Seminoles sign new gambling compact (The Florida Baptist Witness 9/1)