The effort to allow casinos to go up in South Florida isnt dead after all.
Addressing reporters after the floor session Wednesday, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, said he expects the Senate version of the destination gaming bill, SB 710, to advance.
Clearly the House and Senate are not on the same page. The majority of the senators by far would agree with regulating, as opposed to banning, those facilities, Haridopolos said.
The Senate president added that its a 60-day session. Well have to see what happens.
Edie Ousley, vice president of public affairs for the Florida Chamber of Commerce, which opposed the bill, simply said the group's position wont change.
We will continue to oppose the massive expansion of gambling, Ousley said. We continue to believe it is a bad bet for Florida.
Chamber officials and other opponents of the bill, including the No Casinos group, had expected the bill to come back in 2013, and possibly its backers to seek a change in the state Constitution to allow the new casinos.
A representative of Resorts World Miami was not immediately available for comment.
Rep. Eric Fresen, R-Miami, withdrew the House version of the bill, HB 487, that he sponsored Feb. 3, after realizing the bill faced defeat by the Florida House Subcommittee on Consumer and Business Affairs.
After the bill was withdrawn, House Rules chairman Rep. Gary Aubuchon, R-Cape Coral, issued a statement that he would not allow the measure to be revived.
SB 710 hasnt moved since the Regulated Industries Committee gave its support to the proposal Jan. 9.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
