Decoupling will be of paramount concern for horsemen and those worried about its imminent devastating effects on Florida's Thoroughbred, American Quarter Horse and Standardbred industries when the Florida Senate Regulated Industries Committee at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Chaired by Sen. Rob Bradley, the committee is slated to take up two bills (SPB 7072 and SPB 7074) that -- similar to their Florida House of Representatives' counterparts -- contain extensive provisions for the ratification of a new compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The bills also contain language that would radically alter the Florida pari-mutuel landscape in various ways, including decoupling -- essentially undoing the original voter referendum that successfully boosted Florida's ability to compete for pari-mutuel business and create jobs with economic incentives funded by casino revenue.
Florida's racehorse owners, trainers and breeders are strongly opposed to decoupling of any kind, inasmuch as it would render Florida's horse racing and breeding market largely defunct. It would do that primarily by eliminating live racing days and competitive purses. Most immediately, the specter of decoupling means thousands of Florida horsemen are facing the loss of their businesses, employees and jobs. Many have lived, worked and competed in Florida for decades, where they are voters, taxpayers, parents and neighbors.
Decoupling opponents are urged to email and call all members of Senate Regulated Industries before they meet Wednesday and decide whether Florida's successful horse racing industry lives or dies. For a list of committee members and their contact information, click HERE.
Below are the tools you'll need to watch the proceedings:
To view the bill information page for SPB 7072, click HERE.
As of Tuesday, five amendments have been filed to SPB 7072. To access these amendments and any others that may be filed before the committee takes up the bill, click HERE.
To view a legislative analysis of SPB 7072 (without the amendments), click HERE.
To view the bill information page for SPB 7074, click HERE.
To access the amendment list for SPB 7074, click HERE.
To view a legislative analysis of SPB 7074 (without the amendments), click HERE.
To access the Senate Webcast, click HERE, or go to www.TheFloridaChannel.org.
The designation of "SPB," which stands for Senate Proposed Bill, would be changed to simply "SB" (meaning "Senate Bill") on each if the bills pass tomorrow.
The House versions of the bills passed last week are:
HB 7109 Relating to Gaming
HB 7111 Relating to Gaming Compact Between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the State Of Florida
HB 7113 Relating to Voter Control of Gambling Expansion in Florida
NoDecoupling.com is an advocacy outreach by United Florida Horsemen, which comprises nearly 350,000 horsemen from the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, the Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association, the Florida Quarter Horse Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, Florida Standardbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, American Quarter Horse Association, U.S.Trotting, the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association andOcala Breeders’ Sales.
