Rubio gains ally in gambling fight

In the debate over whether legislators must ratify a gambling deal between Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, House Speaker Marco Rubio has enlisted the support of a former speaker, Democrat Jon Mills of Gainesville (1986-88).

Now a professor of law at UF, Mills argues it would violate Florida's Constitution to exclude lawmakers from ratifying such a deal. "The text of the Constitution specifically demands that no branch perform any function of another branch," Mills writes. The former speaker, who is under contract to the House at a rate of $350 an hour, amplifies on arguments made by Rubio, who opposes expansion of gambling.

Mills argues that Crist is trying to rewrite state law -- clearly a legislative function. "The 'banked' card games (e.g., blackjack) proposed to be allowed under the draft compact between the State and the Seminole Tribe are currently prohibited by the criminal code of Florida," he writes. "Under American Constitutional jurisprudence, no executive officer has the authority to override criminal law."

Crist has until next Thursday to agree on a compact with the tribe that will allow not only Vegas-style slots but other table games such as blackjack and baccarat. He has consistently said his "preference" is for the Legislature to ratify any deal.

Comments

[Rid]

Rest assured that our fearless leaders in Tallahassee will screw this up and the Indian casino's will get the games anyway, while the State gets nothing.

Rubio and Rivera will make big bucks off of the Miami-Dade gambling initiative. They don't want competition from the Seminoles.

The SpongeBob Square pants crowd is at again! The federal law is clear on this issue. If the House Kiddies have their way the citizens of Florida will end up with ZERO and gambling will expand. If the Governor has his way the citizens will benefit with millions of dollars to the state and Las Vegas style gambling will not expand to other parts of Florida.

Actually Executives override the criminal code every time the pardon someone....

while I don't agree with the House, the 5:39 post is off base. The Constitution clearly states that the Governor has the authority to pardon.

If Charlie signs, we get gambling AND a piece of the action.

If Charlie doesn't sign, we get ganbling and NOTHING.

Any other questions, Marco?

What's amazing is that this is so clearcut. Expanded gambling in the Seminole casinos is a fait accompli. The greedy and petty Rubio and Mills have axes to grind (and $$$ to be made) and that will cost the State of Florida hundreds of millions.

There are U.S. Supreme Court cases that support keeping the Indian Casinos from expanding gambling outside of existing State laws. Use this to stop them.

6:05..you are correct...but Mills is not because he states that "Under American jurisprudence no executive officer has the authority to override the criminal code"...guess he forgot about pardons...commuted sentences, etc..Barry Richards or Jon Mills..you be the judge...

Except the right to pardon and/or commute is spelled out via the Constitution. To enter into agreements with the Government is not. All said and done, no one--self included knows how a court will rule until the Legislature challenges the Govenor on this. He is the Governor not our KING!!
We don't need another George Bush and I'm starting to see Crist act that way. It's gone to his head.

You people are stupid. Politics will not resolve the matter of Charlie's inept and blatant power grab. Its quite clear, even to every other state supreme court that has addressed this very issue that its a Legislative call. The Constitutional authority rests with the Legislature and Charlie Crist exceeded his authority. He will lose - case closed. THEN the politics will determine the public policy of tribal gambling through the Legislature. Crist hasn't figured out you can't use executive authority to make new law or legislate public policy. He is so incompetent its ridiculous.

Marco is really about to show his immaturity by fighting this compact and making the state end up with nothing at all. Let's just hope the press doesn't fall asleep and let him get away with pimping for the parimutuels like this.

Has nothing to do with pimping and all to do with integrity and not letting a power hungry and ego-centric governor try to become another Hitler.

Rubio once gave all the house members a plaque with a Reagan quote that says something like "it's amazing what can be accomplished when you don't care who gets the credit". Calling that ironic would be too much of an understatement to fathom.

902, you and your ilk will do to the Republicans what was done to the Democrats in the 90s if you don't stop tearing down our party while trying to build up one person. Rubio is a great person and he can succeed without doing it at the expense of our governor and party.

9:10 you really need to be more judicious in your use of the word "great".

meanwhile back in Miamuh the dog tracks will be having gambling at Flagler and 37th Avenue.

Viva Marco!

and the horse tracks will have gambling at county line road and 27th Avenue.

It's all connected...

There needs to be an investigation into the alleged kick backs David Rivera is getting from the Miami gambling people. Adam... this is a big story!

[fred myers]

Personally, I don't want to see Florida become another Nevada. I am pleased to see Rubio challenge Crist on his unilateral approach to this issue. Thank goodness we live in a great state and we may get to see a civics lesson on checks and balances (involving all three branches) unfold right before our eyes! Rubio is right, the true policy makers of this state (the legislature) must be involved in this decision so that the people have more of a voice than through just the executive forcing gambling on us. Didn't we learn anything from the 8 years of Jeb? It is refresshing to see a legislative leader do his/her job and stand up to a popular governor, even if from the same party......good work Speaker Rubio!

Too bad you moralists want to inflict your beliefs on the rest of us. Yeah, let's not be like Nevada whose school systems are ten times what gooberville Florida has. Rubio is a hypocrite and his gubernatorial ambitions will cost the state millions upon millions if he wins in the end (doubt this though).

Before 7:26 and others start going off about "taxation without representation" and dumpingtea into Tampa Bay or something, get a grip, all of you:

It's about tax money:

If Charlie signs we get some. If he doesn't we don't. Either way we will have the same type of gambling down the street.

[Issywise]

Gambling is a social corrosive. It instructs that chance, not work and merit bring reward and success. Chance, of course, can and does deliver unmerited reward to individuals, but it isn't a value on which a republic can be soundly based--it is, to point out the obvious, unreliable.

Every moment spent gambling is a moment spent in pursuit of wealth transfer rather than in creating more wealth. Work, education and meritorious use of time bring real world improvement for all. Gambling, at best, delivers an undeserved jackpot to one who has not been productively engaged.

To the degree possible, government and the laws should not participate in gambling. I know that the founders used public lotteries for raising funds for good purposes and I know that most contemporary Native Americans consider Meyer Lansky the founder of their culture, but I still think the less gambling around the better.

Florida will do well to quit passing down the road toward Las Vegasism.

Are the taxpayers footing the bill to hire Mills in order to further Rubio's political agenda?

Another example of the GOP spending our tax money like "drunken sailors" when it comes time to pay back their special interest campaign contributors.

[ALW]

"Under American Constitutional jurisprudence, no executive officer has the authority to override criminal law."

Wow, that should cause some real problems for the Bush administration.

in miami will the dogs be able to play cards like in those pictures with all the dogs sitting around the table playing poker.

$350/hour? Marco... say it ain't so!

Is that supossed expert on taxes still on contract with the House too?? Lot of help she was...

$350/hour? Marco... say it ain't so!

Is that supossed expert on taxes still on contract with the House too?? Lot of help she was...

[terminator]

relax Rubio haters, the Indians will get class three slots but they won't get exclusivity on table games.
CC has set himself up for a primary challenge in 2010 with his anti-Republican antics.
Anyone notice how McCollum is threatening to sue as well?
Rubio/McCollum vs CC.
Should be interesting.

Termie, you grow more tiresome by the day. You were the same one saying that the "big shoe" was about to drop on Crist and he would NEVER win the republican nomination. Then, you said he would NEVER pick Kottkamp as his running mate. Then you said he would NEVER win the election. Are you EVER right about anything?

[terminator]

10:16
the big shoe could have dropped but TG opted not to pull the trigger.
the other revelations regarding Jason Wetherington and CC's love child dropped but it was too late by that time as most news organizations refused to run with the story until it was jammed down their throat (two days before the primary but too late for the voting public).
I never said anything about Kottkamp (the guy barely registers on the political richter scale and is a non-issue).
Alot of what I said was campaign bluster meant to rally the troops.
If you don't believe me, try reading these blogs daily.
More and more R's are getting real tired of Mr. Crist and his nonsense.
Glad I'm getting to you there Cristite.
If you can't see the picture that's starting to be painted, you sir are an imbecile!

Termie, you sir, are the non-factor.

Is there anyone else who pretends to be more important or more in-the-know than our lovable Terminator?

Who is the Terminator - that is the question

I love folks who are so enamored with Chuckie Cheese that they cannot or refuse to see the future.

Not saying Chuckie will not see a longer than usual tide from his popularity, but the day will come...

[Yoda]

Much too learn you all of you have. Speak of what you know not you do. Only a fool speaks of what they don't know. Many fools I see.

[Kirk]

Beam me up Scotty!

I can see that Jon Mills is not exactly aging gracefully. What is it that makes that photo look so weird?

[terminator]

well glad I'm regarded as "lovable".

Yoda:
better go back and check that diction.
you must have graduated from a Florida public high school.

Rubio/McCollum?! Why on earth would McCollum, who has won statewide (and run statewide three times) EVER take a backseat to a guy who no one knows and only won office by less than 100 votes in a special election? Laughable.

Termie...you continually make two huge mistakes. First, you think you are smarter than you actually are. Second, you continually underestimate people. You have again demonstrated both traits with your posts here.

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha, Do you think this really matters to most people out there? You putz. You might as well picked Johnnie Byrd. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha.