A critical letter from Las Vegas Sands isnt going to deter Attorney General Pam Bondi from her stance in opposition to the expansion of gaming in Florida.
Bondi joined the anti-gaming effort with Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, working under the No Casinos umbrella, on Dec. 8 to publicly express her opposition to the gaming bill now before legislators that would allow three mega-casinos in the state.
The Florida League of Cities argues municipalities across Florida could save hundreds of millions of dollars by revamping pension and disabilities benefits that the state requires for law enforcement officers and firefighters.
The league, as a top priority for the 2012 session, wants Florida legislators to overturn state mandates that have been in place since 1999.
Las Vegas Sands, which has been keeping a close eye on Floridas gambling debate, has objected to comments Attorney General Pam Bondi made Thursday when she went public with her opposition to "destination gaming" bills in the state House and Senate.
Bondi, joined by Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and backers siding with the No Casino effort, called on state legislators to walk away from the proposal they say will grow crime and lead to a proliferation of gambling across Florida.
Gov. Rick Scott will soon take a close look at the special taxing districts -- as he did the water management districts last summer -- that proliferate across Florida.
Meanwhile, hospital districts in Florida could be ranked as part of efforts to reduce Medicaid reimbursement costs and make the facilities more efficient.
Jerry McDaniel, director of policy and budget in the executive office of the governor, said an executive order may be issued by Jan. 1 regarding the special taxing districts.
House Redistricting Committee members will narrow the list of proposed maps for new congressional lines to three in the new few weeks.
The House, on Tuesday, released seven potential versions of how it could redraw the new congressional lines for once-a-decade redistricting.
On Thursday, the House Congressional Redistricting subcommittee reviewed the maps, but made no decision on which maps to move on to the full committee.
Subcommittee Co-Chair Doug Holder, R-Sarasota, said there is no favorite among the seven maps as of Thursday.
Include Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam among those opposed to the gaming destination bill that is expected to be drastically rewritten before it goes before its first Senate vote next month.
The two Cabinet members, joining members of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and No Casinos, an organization opposing expanded gambling, called on state legislators to walk away from the proposal they say will grow crime and lead to a proliferation of gambling across Florida.
Florida Ports Council President Doug Wheeler was encouraged that Gov. Rick Scott -- who championed the dredging of the Port of Miami earlier this year -- continues to stress the need to bulk up the ports in the state.
