Another day, another lawsuit for House Speaker Richard Corcoran -- this time, the Land O’ Lakes Republican is hedging his bets against a new target, taking aim at the Florida Lottery.
Corcoran filed a lawsuit in Leon County Friday against the Florida Lottery for signing a contract the House says spends beyond existing budget limitations set aside for the Florida Lottery.
If Corcoran’s suit is successful, it could be game over for the Florida Lottery.
Last year, the Lottery signed a 14-year, $700 million contract with gaming company IGT Global Solutions to ramp up the number of ticket machines selling Powerball tickets. The number of machines would jump from 2,000 to 5,500 statewide.
The contract results in around $50 million a year to IGT, a number Corcoran says is concerning for several reasons. Corcoran’s biggest gripe: the contract, he wrote, would require the state Legislature to spend excess money on the Lottery.
Corcoran wrote that the contract doesn’t fall in line with the funding currently set aside for the Lottery in the state budget.
That means state lawmakers, Corcoran alleges, broke the law by allowing a state agency to spend in excess of what’s appropriated for it in the budget.
The lawsuit is yet another chapter in Corcoran’s “tough guy” crackdown on government excess and is another attempt to promote transparency in Florida government. To Corcoran, each lawsuit is a chance to ride into battle and fight for the good of Florida taxpayers.
“This is yet another example of a government entity thinking it is more important than the people who pay for it,” Corcoran said. “The Lottery, and any other agency for that matter, does not have the right to obligate the taxpayers of Florida by even a penny beyond what the people’s elected representatives say they can.”
Gov. Rick Scott, already embroiled in a heated feud with Corcoran over killing Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida, was quick to respond on the matter -- and it sounded like Scott was none too happy over this move of Corcoran’s either.
“The Florida Lottery’s record sales have led to historic contributions to our state’s education system and the House sues? Not shocking to have another lawsuit from a trial lawyer,” said Scott spokesperson Jackie Schutz.
Corcoran's spokesperson Fred Piccolo scoffed at Schutz's remarks.
"Does she have any thoughts on the merits of this case?" he questioned when Sunshine State News asked about the email.
This isn’t the first time the speaker has taken Florida to town over alleged political wrongdoing.
Just two months ago, Corcoran filed another lawsuit over a “secret” ad contract between Miami rapper Pitbull and the state’s tourism agency, Visit Florida. Visit Florida paid the Cuban superstar to record a sexy, bikini-clad tourism video to promote Florida’s beaches as part of a contract which was not made public. Pitbull later tweeted out the $1 million contract, putting the kibosh on the suit.
The suit, Corcoran said, should make any agencies acting shady shake in their boots.
“I hope our actions today serve as a warning to any agency playing fast and loose with the rules that the people have had enough,” said Corcoran.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
