Jim Rosica
Gambling lobbyist Marc Dunbar is telling anti-gambling activist John Sowinski to lay his cards on the table.
In an open letter released Thursday, Dunbar says Sowinski – president of No Casinos – has “declared war on (the gambling) industry, and in turn our economy, with a proposed constitutional amendment which you now have finally and publicly disclosed is intended to ban retroactively many forms of legal gambling in the state.”
Sowinski also chairs Voters In Charge, the political committee behind the proposed “Voter Control of Gambling” constitutional amendment, also known as “Amendment 3,” on the November ballot.
The idea behind the amendment is to give statewide voters sole authority to approve future expansions of gambling in the state.
But Sowinski earlier this week sent his own letter to lawmakers that “revenue estimators, the Florida Supreme Court and even the gambling industry’s own legal experts agree that the voter approval requirements of Amendment 3 could be applied to any expansion you might now approve.” Legislative leadership had been considering a Special Session on gambling.
“In other words, you must assume that legislation to expand gambling now may be overturned in November with voter approval of Amendment 3,” Sowinski wrote.
Dunbar, in turn, said “this quest to retroactively outlaw legal operations could eliminate large segments of an industry that has contributed billions of dollars to Florida’s economy.”
“Your lack of candor with state economists, lawmakers and even the Florida Supreme Court regarding the true motives behind your proposal (raises) the question whether you similarly respect the rights of Floridians to make an informed decision regarding your proposed Amendment and gambling within their communities,” Dunbar added.
“It is clearly time to meet in the public square and have a candid and truthful dialogue about Amendment 3 and your group’s desired impacts. I am hopeful that this dialogue will allow voters across Florida to make an informed decision on Amendment 3 when they go to the polls in November.”
The Voters In Charge Twitter account later Thursday posted in response, “Nice try, Marc Dunbar. Your letter makes the same misguided arguments you made in front of the Florida Supreme Court. They didn’t work then. They won’t work now.”
And the No Casinos account tweeted, “BREAKING: Gambling lobbyist/pari-mutuel owner doesn’t like Amendment 3 (@VotersInCharge) which puts Florida voters in control of casino gambling decisions (not Mr. Dunbar) #shocker”
Dunbar’s full letter and the tweets are below.
Nice try, Marc Dunbar. Your letter makes the same misguided arguments you made in front of the Florida Supreme Court. They didn’t work then. They won’t work now. #FlaPol https://t.co/BAzMUXO2Kq
— VotersInCharge (@VotersInCharge) April 5, 2018
BREAKING: Gambling lobbyist/pari-mutuel owner doesn’t like Amendment 3 (@VotersInCharge) which puts Florida voters in control of casino gambling decisions (not Mr. Dunbar) #shocker #FlaPol https://t.co/Df9joTuloB
— No Casinos (@NoCasinos) April 5, 2018
3 comments
Usual Suspects
April 6, 2018 at 9:29 am
Look who’s calling the kettle black. Would be funny if the accusation weren’t so outrageous.
Michael
April 6, 2018 at 12:30 pm
Not only does lobbyist Dunbar have an interest in a gaming facility but he thinks it’s okay to have games in his facility that have been deemed illegal by a federal judge. His actions along with others have jeopardized the casino industry as a whole here in Florida. Those actions include compromising the Seminole Compact. Dunbar could be defined as the sole aggressor in causing any damages that may occur stemming from his disregard of federal law and imposing it upon the people of Florida for the his own unjust enrichment. If we lose the Seminole money it is because Dunbar caused it and nothing else. The people need to take control and get rid of people like Dunbar who are only in the game for themselves and thinks that ignoring the law is becoming as a lawyer.
Long Live Voters In Control
Usual Suspects
April 6, 2018 at 1:03 pm
Ignoring the law sure has worked for him so far. Now he’s even got his grimy tentacles in another gambling venture–insurance! Good luck Florida taxpayers! You’re going to need it!
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