With dueling lawsuits about the future of casino blackjack games pending in federal courts in Tallahassee and Tampa, the Seminole Tribe of Florida is once again going on the air with its pitch for a new gambling deal with the state.
The tribe released a new television ad in Leon County, where lawmakers have been gathered for committee meetings and a special session on redistricting.
The latest ad comes after tribal leaders have spent weeks trying to work out a deal with Gov. Rick Scott's staff and Republican legislative leaders regarding the Seminoles' exclusive rights to offer banked card games, including blackjack, at most of their casinos. The tribe ran a similar ad during the legislative session this spring, to no avail.
A 2010 deal involving the card games, part of a larger agreement called a compact, expired this summer, and a 90-day grace period included in the compact ran out last week.
The television ad claims that the Seminoles "have already delivered 20,000 Florida jobs" and "more than $1 billion" to the state as a result of the original agreement.
"Now a new compact is on the table with 15,000 more jobs and the largest revenue share in history. Yet after years of hearings and negotiations, still no answer, despite overwhelming public support. And the real risk --- we could lose control," a female voiceover on the ad says.
The loss of "control" in the ad is a reference to out-of-state casinos' attempts to convince the Legislature to approve "destination resorts" in Florida. That effort is apparently off the table, at least for now.
Sources involved in the current talks between the state and the tribe told The News Service of Florida last month that the Seminoles could pay Florida $3 billion over seven years in return for being able to add craps and roulette --- and keep the lucrative card games --- at its casinos.
"Tell the governor, Senate and the House. Renew the compact. We've waited long enough," the ad concludes, with captioned photos Scott, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner.
The TV pitch comes as both sides have gone to court to decide the fate of the card games.
The Seminoles filed a federal lawsuit in Tallahassee last week, accusing the state of acting in "bad faith" in the negotiations over the compact and asking a federal judge to allow the tribe to keep offering the games.
Days later, the state filed a separate lawsuit in Tampa, asking a federal judge to stop the games.
Barry Richard, an attorney for the tribe, said his clients intend to ask the court to consolidate the cases in Tallahassee.
Even if Scott closes a deal with the Seminoles, it's uncertain whether the Legislature would give its blessing. Any legislation would also almost certainly include some perks for the state's pari-mutuel industry.
On the table? "Decoupling" for greyhound tracks that would allow the facilities to keep more lucrative card rooms without having to race dogs, and allowing the Palm Beach Kennel Club to add slot machines, which could be problematic for lawmakers in other counties that also have approved slots.
BUCKHORN BID PERCOLATING?
Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn's gift this weekend might have been what Florida Democrats needed to jolt them out of the malaise --- in the words of one delegate --- permeating the annual party convention at Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts.
Buckhorn didn't make it to the event but had some homegrown swag --- "Tampa's Ybor Blend" coffee beans --- stuffed into conventioneers' tote bags. The Tampa Bay joe included a tongue-in-cheek recipe with some "Morning Brew for a Better Florida" directions and a photo of the mayor, who's exploring a run for governor, on the flipside.
The "ingredients" included "a roast with the flavors of strong leadership and honesty," tablespoons of "quality education" and "protected voting rights," "Equal parts wages for women and men," mixed with three teaspoons of "high wage jobs for middle class," a "pinch of South Florida sugar," and a "dash of Florida citrus zest."
Buckhorn's instructions on how to build a better brew sound like the platform of someone who's running for something: "Grind coffee beans to extract equality. Bring water to a boil. Steep roast in hot water. Mix all other ingredients until transparent. Cover to insure all Floridians. Remove from heat when aroma is that of a united and vibrant state. Press to remove grinds, discrimination, and gridlock. Let cool under strong environmental protections. Divide into fair districts. Top with a sprinkle of Tampa swagger. Enjoy for generations!"
TWEET OF THE WEEK: "Having former senior staff endorse your opponent is a good way to manage expectations and avoid early peaking." GOP veteran operative J.M. "Mac" Stipanovich, on Rep. Richard Corcoran, who served as U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's chief of staff during Rubio's tenure as Florida House speaker, endorsing former Gov. Jeb Bush.
