The Everglades Improvement and Management bill passed its sponsor's committee Tuesday.

SB 768, sponsored by freshman Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, puts into statute a deal struck by Gov. Rick Scott and the Obama administration about how to move forward with the last phase of restoration. Simpson said it is a result of the two sides "putting politics aside" and that it has been celebrated by environmentalists, agriculture and policymakers.

A representative of Sheldon Adelson's Las Vegas Sands Corporation told Florida lawmakers Tuesday that the way to take gaming in the state is to go big.

Nick Iarossi, a lobbyist for the worlds largest destination-resort developer, told the House Select Committee on Gaming that they should create a tax rate that allows destination casinos to do it right on a large scale.