Governor starts gambling talks with the tribe

Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe of Florida began negotiating a new gambling compact today that would bring new revenue to the state in exchange for the tribe's right to a monopoly on some of its casino games.

 Lawyers for the governor and the tribe met Wednesday morning in Tallahassee to set schedules and review the issues to be discussed, said George LeMieux, a Tallahassee lawyer and Crist's former chief of staff who will be a part of the governor's negotiating team. They will resume discussions again in mid-July with a goal of completing the talks by Aug. 31, he said.

The governor must re-negotiate the agreement he signed in 2007 with the Seminole Tribe of Florida because it invalidated by the Florida Supreme Court a year ago. Since then, the Florida Legislature passed legislation that lays out the framework for what Crist should seek in his talks with the tribe.

Under those guidelines, the state would give the Seminoles the exclusive right to operate slot machines outside of Miami-Dade and Broward counties and the exclusive right to banked card games -- black jack, baccarat and chemin de fer -- in Broward and Hillsborough counties. In return, the tribe would be expected to pay the state $150 million a year.

Barry Richard, one of the tribe's lead lawyers, has said the dollar amount is too high and the legislative conditions are a non-starter because they would require the tribe to continue paying -- but a at a lesser rate --if lawmakers give casino games to other parimutuels in the future.

LeMieux said Wednesday that he expects the tribe to reach an agreement with the state despite those concerns. "The tribe is extremely professional and I believe they will work in good faith to get something done, as opposed to failing to reach an agreement," he said.

The issues of contention will be the same as they were during the 2007 negotiations, LeMieux said: which games will the tribe receive exclusive rights to, how much will they pay the state, how many facilities will be allowed to offer black jack and other banked card games and how much regulation will they have to comply with.

The goal of the governor's office and the tribe is to have a compact signed by Aug. 31, the deadline legislators set out in the bill.

The governor's team will also include his general counsel Rob Wheeler and his chief of staff Eric Eikenberg. LeMieux said he is volunteering his time to work on the negotiationsto "keep some continuity to the talks."

Comments

[Just Sayin]

Charlie should look at California for what is next for Florida. Oh and all you Communists, stop with the "we dont tax enough garbage", just look at the facts:

California Budget

FY 1997-1998 $68.5 Billion
FY 2007-2008 $144.8 Billion

"if the 1999-2000 budget of former California governor Gray Davis had been increased over the next decade by a factor representing the inflation rate and California's population growth in that time, California would now be experiencing a budget surplus, rather than a deficit even with the recent revenue decline due to the state's economic recession. Instead, California has had a 50% spending increase over the past five years.

Over the past 10 years state spending from state sources has more than doubled in nominal terms (not adjusted for inflation), and during the current governor's tenure state spending from state sources has risen almost 40 percent.

You will find the same outrageous increases in spending in every state budget and of course our Federal Govt.

To all the Communists here: what names will you call me for telling the truth?

[it is me, or]

is it me or does LeMeiux look like an ugly bald-headed short troll?

[Ken]

Kudos to Bill Galvano who stuck to his Guns with the Gaming issue and was able to put the Governor in this position that will be much more beneficial for Florida

[conflict?]

does Gunster represent the Tribe. Thats the word SPT. That would be a major no no for the frenchman

[George Should Step Down]

I admit I am a Jeb fan but having George handle this issue after getting his clock cleaned by the Seminoles is odd. He is not a good deal maker for the state and the Legislature does not trust him. Get a real lawyer please....

[willie meggs]

conflict:
I was going to say.

Thought former executive office of the Governor COS would be banned from lobbying the Gov.

Lemiuex should be investigated.

[jim]

It is a shame that our state has to turn to gambling to help run the state,
If I recall the voters defeated casino gambling in Florida twice. You can now expect to see slot machines in every county and I guess every school lunch
room if this is the example we want to set for our childrenand grand kids in this state. We have enough gambling in state already!

[There is no leadership anymore in Florida]

This is sad.

[FACT CHECK]

jim, the Seminoles are a sovereign nation.

[jim]

You are right FACT CHECK, but only on the reservation (not in every county in Florida)

[Gator(R)]

I consider gambling as a tax on stupid. In general we tax ambition, hard work, intelligence, but not stupid.

Unfortunately, when we tax stupid, we end up spending more on social issues than we collect (gross generalization I realize).

If I were all powerful I would ban gambling, but have to admit it would go on anyway.