Ryan Ray
A group of dog racing track owners and other gaming interests filed a brief with the Florida Supreme Court on Friday urging Attorney General Pam Bondi and the high court to nix a proposed amendment to the state constitution that could expand gambling by allowing counties to hold referendums on the matter.
The amendment’s opponents — including the Jacksonville Kennel Club, Dania Entertainment, and Melbourne Greyhound Park, among others — argue the amendment would both hurt their financial interests and run afoul of state law.
In the 26-page brief, attorneys for the amendment’s opponents argue the amendment:
- Violates the “single-subject” provision of the constitution by contemplating changes to multiple areas of law;
- Contains misleading language, as Florida voters cannot “control” gaming as the amendment reads, only “authorize” it;
- Creates confusion and uncertainty regarding the status of currently extant and pending slot machine licenses; and
- Violates state law by not specifying whether the changes would apply retroactively or not.
The brief accuses amendment proponents of greedily “logrolling” via the amendment’s language, or inappropriately trying to achieve multiple changes to state law via just one ballot initiative, which is prohibited.
“The Gambling Amendment includes two competing subjects which may appeal to voters with different and conflicting preferences,” lawyers for the opponents wrote. “This is textbook logrolling and is in clear violation of the single-subject requirement of the Florida Constitution.”
The brief, which can be found here, was filed by attorneys from the Tallahassee-based Lockwood Law Firm.
