Peter SchorschIn 333 BC, Alexander of Macedonia, on his march through Anatolia, reached Gordium. There he was shown the chariot of the ancient founder of the city, Gordius, with its yoke lashed to the pole by an intricate knot.
According to tradition, this knot was to be untied only by the future conqueror of Asia.
According to legend, Alexander sliced through the knot with his sword, although some historians believe he found the ends either by cutting into the knot or by drawing out the pole.
The phrase “cutting the Gordian knot” has thus come to denote a bold solution to a complicated problem — like what to do about the future of gambling in Florida.
Last month, state Sen. Garrett Richter told the Tampa Tribune’s James Rosica that, despite a 708-page study and three public workshops under their belts, lawmakers haven’t yet reached a “eureka” moment over the future of gambling.
The interests associated with the gambling debate are varied, vast and often in conflict with each other, notes Gray Rohrer of the Florida Current.
Large casino companies want to be able to build casino resorts in South Florida. Existing pari-mutuel facilities want lower taxes and a free hand to add slots and various card games. The Seminole Tribe of Florida will be watching to see how any new legislation would affect their gaming compact with the state, which provides $233 million per year. And that’s before anti-gambling forces such as Walt Disney Co., the Florida Chamber of Commerce and No Casinos are considered.
Enter Will Weatherford with an attempt to cut the Gordian Knot tying up this complicated issue.
Weatherford wants to put gambling expansion on the ballot, giving reluctant GOP House members a way to circumvent the issue as it comes up for consideration in 2014.
Weatherford’s proposal, which is still under development, would “set in stone” any agreed-upon action next year, as well as requiring statewide approval — with a 60 percent approval by voters — for a constitutional amendment, reports Dara Kam of the News Service of Florida.
“I have become over the years very concerned with the drip, drip, drip expansion of gaming that’s taken place in the state of Florida,” Weatherford told the News Service. “I am certainly warming up to the idea of having a constitutional amendment that would require all future expansion to go before the voters. I’m very, very intrigued by that concept.”
Weatherford is gaining Republican support for the idea of a constitutional amendment, which may be tied to a gambling expansion bill that includes establishing state gaming commissions, as well as a number of elements that would develop gambling throughout Florida.
Supporters include a variety of conservative Republicans led by Rep. Richard Corcoran and House Select Committee on Gaming Chairman Rep. Rob Schenck, who is the Speaker’s chief negotiator on the gambling legislation.
“There’s no question that if everyone believed any future expansion after the 2014 session required a statewide vote, all the gaming interests would do whatever they could to try to include anything they could in the comprehensive legislation,” lobbyist Nick Iarossi said.
Iarossi represents Las Vegas Sands, a casino operator who is urging lawmakers to back at least one destination resort and casino in either Broward or Miami-Dade counties.
At this stage, it’s not clear what the Chamber-Disney-No Casinos coalition thinks about Weatherford’s proposal. It’s likely it would like to see expanded gambling nipped in the bud during the legislative session by seeing that no proposal even hinting at expansion makes its way out of the Legislature.
But suppose Schenck, his counterpart Sen. Richter, and others, including Sen. Bill Galvano, craft legislation that would better regulate the sprawling industry. That’s certainly worth exploring.
As for a referendum on expanded gaming, the 2014 election cycle is already exciting with Charlie Crist vs. Rick Scott. Just imagine if Disney vs. Genting and the Florida Chamber vs. Las Vegas Sands were added to the undercard.
Regardless of the outcome of those battles, Weatherford gets kudos for (again) tackling a complicated issue like gambling. With legislative wins on elections and ethics reform already under his belt, were he to add a substantive win on gambling policy, Weatherford might go down as one of the most effective House Speakers in modern Florida history.
