Crist: 'solely within bounds' of authority

A lawyer for Gov. Charlie Crist told the state Supreme Court moments ago that the governor negotiated a casino gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe "solely within the bounds of his authority" and it does not require legislative approval.

"The governor acted responsibly, properly and solely within the bounds of his authority as chief executive," states the filing with the Florida Supreme Court. Rubio filed suit against Crist last month and since them the Senate has joined him as a supporter.

The Crist response suggests Rubio blew the chance for legislative approval. Bills granting that power were offered in both chambers. It passed the Senate, but the House version never got on the floor.

Rep. Jim Waldman, a first-term Democrat from Coconut Creek, said he talked with Rubio and others about getting the bill heard, but nothing happened. As new lawmakers are apt to do, Waldman wrote letters to House leaders calling attention to the bill. Here is one of them.

“It’s kind of disingenuous at this point to say we didn’t have the opportunity to ratify the compact,” Waldman said.

Rubio spokeswoman Jill Chamberlin noted the hundreds of bills that never get heard each session (and those that do usually belong to more tenured members) and said the compact did not heat up until after the session.

"There were a lot of bills and he was very focused on the property tax issue," Chamberlin told the Times.

Said Crist, "Everybody has their own timing when they feel issues are ripe and I respect that he feels it’s ripe for him now."

The Seminoles also filed a response Monday. Click here.

Comments

Good job Jim!

Rubio looks like a whiney little kid on this one, folks.

Sorry Marco, your speakership has been a giant waste of time.

[terminator]

isn't Waldman the douchebag from Broward that was totally opposed to any tax cut legislation?

he's a former local government lackey addicted to higher property taxes. good thing he represents Coconut Creek which is the backwater of Broward County.

what would anyone expect Charlie Crist's lawyer to say? He's getting paid to advance the Gov's agenda.

Charlie's going to join Jeb in getting rebuked by the Florida Supreme Court when all is said and done.

the precedent has already been established in at least five other similar gaming power struggles between state executive and legislative branches.

try doing your homework guys!

Termie...since you didn't go to law school it may be best for you to simply remain quiet on this one...The Governor is on very solid legal footing...

"... Crist response suggests Rubio blew..."

Great, there goes another $20 of my tax money. Can't you boys stay out of the bathrooms. For God's sake get a room.

Admit it Termie, Marco screwed the pooch on this one. And the other one. And the other one. And the other one. Come to think of it. Name one thing that Marco has done (ie passed the Legislature and became law) that anyone (conservatives, taxpayers, Americans, citizens, anyone) could applaud. Name just one.

So, Termie, is it true that Marco should have ORDERED a hearing on this bill? Was he too consumed with grandstanding on a dozen issues that didn't pass? Where were his advisors . . . like you? Failures. Suckers. Leeches.

[Buzz]

9:35 and 10:15 the termi[te] (as I like to call him) is dead on right. The fact that a legislative chamber didn't pass a bill that didn't give the governor what he wants does not mean the Constitution gives the govenor the power he wishes he had. The legislature doesn't have to a pass a bill to keep its own legislative authority. All you politicos have got this all wrong. The governor's supposed firm ground is quicksand. The supreme court has no interest in expanding the governor's authority against the legislature. His lawyer will lose, in fact it won't surprise me to see a unanimous ruling against the governor. Frankly I think the supremes would enjoy giving the govenor a well deserved lesson on the limits of executive power.

A poor law student should not get in the business of interpreting law and concluding treaties. Sorry Charlie, it's NOT to be.

Paul Huck is a hack whose main claim to fame is his Dad is a Federal Judge. But George Lemieux is bright and a good lawyer. He must have known better.

If both houses of the Florida legislature attempted to enact laws requiring legislative ratification of such a compact, doesn't it beg the question: Why do we need a law requiring legislative ratification if the law is already clear that the governor can't act alone?

where was legislative ratification on the Jeb Bush/CSX deal?

[John]

I think Gov Crist & the state of FL will win this. This case may not even belong in state court.

Isn't a compact between the Seminole a Federal court issue?