##)hno::think2::>( thanks religion and republicans for once again proving how worthless you both are
South Florida gambling plans head for trouble
TALLAHASSEE – A controversial plan to massively expand gambling in South Florida appears headed for more trouble as the House and Senate move in opposite directions.
Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, released a 146-page rewritten version of his destination casino bill that bans Internet cafes, lowers pari-mutuel tax rates and reconfigures a regulation considered crucial to Las Vegas operators who want to do business in the state. It would not grant casino licenses until 2017 – the original timeline had a commission awarding licenses in mid 2013.
Both Fresen and Senate sponsor Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, have had to make a number of changes to their respective bills to win votes. But her version allows pari-mutuel facilities to become full blown casinos if destination resorts open in their counties. Her bill regulates Internet cafes and lets other counties get slot machines at their gambling facilities.
"The upgrades were all for the most part driven by me based on conversations with the different committee members," Fresen said. "[But] the basic core of the bill is still there."
The destination casino proposal has always faced an uphill climb. Supporters argue it could bring the state thousands of jobs, and be a boon to the South Florida economy. Opponents counter it would hurt the state's family-friendly image and cannibalize local businesses.
It has divided business groups like the Florida Chamber of Commerce, which opposes it, and Associated Industries, which supports it. The two have traded ad attacks for the past several weeks over issues of job creation, the crime rate and the image of the Sunshine state.
No Casinos, Inc., a group that has operated in the past to fight gambling expansion measures, released a study that predicts crime would rise 8 to 12 percent if two destination casinos were added, and the cost to imprison the perpetrators (mostly from robberies and thefts) would be $3 billion for 10 years. The numbers were based on 23 academic studies, but Jessica Hoppe, general counsel of casino resort company Genting, called it a "scare tactic."
"Today's publicity stunt is a condemnable attempt to manipulate the community through scare tactics," she said. "The true objective of this group is to deny the voters of Miami-Dade and Broward counties an opportunity to have a say on the destination resorts issue."
Bogdanoff's version passed the Senate Regulated Industries Committee weeks ago, and Senate President Mike Haridopolos has committed to letting the full Senate vote on the issue. He and other Senate leaders have been waiting for the House to take up the bill.
Both lawmakers long ago acknowledged they would have to make changes to accommodate their respective chambers' membership and then ultimately try to meet in the middle.
Fresen's rewritten version would lower a racino's tax rates from 35 percent to 10 percent once a destination casino opens and it would rework the regulation side of the bill. Instead of setting up a separate agency to control gambling, it would create a single department to oversee casinos and grant licenses. The department would answer to the Governor and Cabinet.
The original set-up, and the one in Bogdanoff's version, created a separate agency and gaming commission, which would handle the awarding of the licenses. Nevada uses a similar system and many Vegas operators endorse it.
"There were legitimate structural concerns, whether the commission would have a role beyond the issuance of the three licenses," Fresen said.
How the bill will fare Friday is still up in the air. Both representatives from Genting and Las Vegas Sands, two of the leading casino companies that hope to enter the state, said they are still reviewing the legislation.
"We are pleased Representative Fresen's bill has been released and are currently reviewing," Hoppe said. "We look forward to applying for the opportunity to work under the regulatory structure adopted by the legislature which they deem best for gaming regulation in the State of Florida."
Two committee members though, Rep. Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, and Rep. Joseph Abruzzo, R-Wellington, have already said they are "no" votes.
Trujillo released an opinion piece after the committee agreed to hear the bill Friday.
"Contrary to the argument posited by proponents of HB 487, it is undeniable that this is an attempt at expanding gambling," he said. "To say otherwise is wrong, preposterous, and unfortunately, an attempt to mislead a community in desperate need of economic relief. "
South Florida gambling plans head for trouble
TALLAHASSEE – A controversial plan to massively expand gambling in South Florida appears headed for more trouble as the House and Senate move in opposite directions.
Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, released a 146-page rewritten version of his destination casino bill that bans Internet cafes, lowers pari-mutuel tax rates and reconfigures a regulation considered crucial to Las Vegas operators who want to do business in the state. It would not grant casino licenses until 2017 – the original timeline had a commission awarding licenses in mid 2013.
Both Fresen and Senate sponsor Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, have had to make a number of changes to their respective bills to win votes. But her version allows pari-mutuel facilities to become full blown casinos if destination resorts open in their counties. Her bill regulates Internet cafes and lets other counties get slot machines at their gambling facilities.
- fresen said his revisions were necessary to win votes in the bill's first committee hearing slated for Friday
"The upgrades were all for the most part driven by me based on conversations with the different committee members," Fresen said. "[But] the basic core of the bill is still there."
The destination casino proposal has always faced an uphill climb. Supporters argue it could bring the state thousands of jobs, and be a boon to the South Florida economy. Opponents counter it would hurt the state's family-friendly image and cannibalize local businesses.
It has divided business groups like the Florida Chamber of Commerce, which opposes it, and Associated Industries, which supports it. The two have traded ad attacks for the past several weeks over issues of job creation, the crime rate and the image of the Sunshine state.
No Casinos, Inc., a group that has operated in the past to fight gambling expansion measures, released a study that predicts crime would rise 8 to 12 percent if two destination casinos were added, and the cost to imprison the perpetrators (mostly from robberies and thefts) would be $3 billion for 10 years. The numbers were based on 23 academic studies, but Jessica Hoppe, general counsel of casino resort company Genting, called it a "scare tactic."
"Today's publicity stunt is a condemnable attempt to manipulate the community through scare tactics," she said. "The true objective of this group is to deny the voters of Miami-Dade and Broward counties an opportunity to have a say on the destination resorts issue."
Bogdanoff's version passed the Senate Regulated Industries Committee weeks ago, and Senate President Mike Haridopolos has committed to letting the full Senate vote on the issue. He and other Senate leaders have been waiting for the House to take up the bill.
Both lawmakers long ago acknowledged they would have to make changes to accommodate their respective chambers' membership and then ultimately try to meet in the middle.
Fresen's rewritten version would lower a racino's tax rates from 35 percent to 10 percent once a destination casino opens and it would rework the regulation side of the bill. Instead of setting up a separate agency to control gambling, it would create a single department to oversee casinos and grant licenses. The department would answer to the Governor and Cabinet.
The original set-up, and the one in Bogdanoff's version, created a separate agency and gaming commission, which would handle the awarding of the licenses. Nevada uses a similar system and many Vegas operators endorse it.
"There were legitimate structural concerns, whether the commission would have a role beyond the issuance of the three licenses," Fresen said.
How the bill will fare Friday is still up in the air. Both representatives from Genting and Las Vegas Sands, two of the leading casino companies that hope to enter the state, said they are still reviewing the legislation.
"We are pleased Representative Fresen's bill has been released and are currently reviewing," Hoppe said. "We look forward to applying for the opportunity to work under the regulatory structure adopted by the legislature which they deem best for gaming regulation in the State of Florida."
Two committee members though, Rep. Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, and Rep. Joseph Abruzzo, R-Wellington, have already said they are "no" votes.
Trujillo released an opinion piece after the committee agreed to hear the bill Friday.
"Contrary to the argument posited by proponents of HB 487, it is undeniable that this is an attempt at expanding gambling," he said. "To say otherwise is wrong, preposterous, and unfortunately, an attempt to mislead a community in desperate need of economic relief. "