Peter Schorsch
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
A Special Session on gambling keeps inching toward reality, legislative and industry sources said Thursday.
The day before, Gov. Rick Scott announced an agreement between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida that guarantees the Tribe will keeping sharing gaming revenue from its casinos at least till May 2019.
Right now, that’s $19.5 million a month with a balloon, or “true up,” payment after the fiscal year ends on June 30.
But that doesn’t address the myriad other issues lawmakers want to resolve before a proposed constitutional amendment likely passes this November that would require a statewide vote to approve any future expansions of gambling.
Details were scarce, but here’s what we’re told is on the table:
— Allowing slot machines in at least some of the eight counties that passed a local referendum allowing them. That could include St. Lucie County, which has a jai alai fronton and card room now known as Casino Fort Pierce and is in Senate President Joe Negron’s district.
— Allowing existing designated player games, a hybrid of poker and blackjack, to continue at pari-mutuel card rooms now offering those games.
— Setting a new minimum guarantee in tax money from those pari-mutuels now offering slots in South Florida. Only the Tribe can offer slots outside that area.
— Figuring out a way to do all that while achieving a “true contraction” of gambling in the state, a prerequisite of House Speaker Richard Corcoran. That almost certainly means a provision for pari-mutuel owners to surrender gambling permits at some locations to get slots in another, something that was considered this past Regular Session.
Also vexing lawmakers is coming up with a plan that doesn’t upset the Tribe, which pays the state because it gets “exclusivity,” or freedom from competition, to offer blackjack at its casinos and to have slots outside South Florida.
Nonetheless, one person with knowledge of talks between Senate President-designate Bill Galvano and House Speaker-designate Jose Oliva said to not be surprised if an announcement of a Special Session comes as early as next week.
“Then again, don’t be surprised if there isn’t one,” that person said. “But I can say they’re as close as they’ve ever been.”
Evening Reads
“Barack Obama pens ‘Time 100’ tribute to Parkland survivors” via Kirby Wilson of the Tampa Bay Times
“Cuba’s new president is the first non-Castro in 42 years. How much power will he have?” via Mimi Whitefield and Nora Gámez Torres of the Miami Herald
“To beat Scott, Bill Nelson needs these votes. What’s he doing to turn them out?” via Alex Daugherty of the Miami Herald
“Scott Spanish ad touts jobs, tax cuts” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
“Adam Putnam’s family citrus business violated federal labor laws” via Steve Bousquet of the Tampa Bay Times
“Tom Lee decided against CFO run” via Joe Henderson of Florida Politics
“Brightline’s financing challenged in congressional hearing” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
“Teresa Jacobs: Orange to test state law with background checks, waiting period on gun purchases” via Steven Lemongello
“Home-sharing giant Airbnb faces Collier County lawsuit, lingering criticism from hoteliers” via Laura Ruane of the Naples Daily News
“Hernando County Commissioner arrested on prostitution charges” via Barbara Behrendt of the Tampa Bay Times
Quote of the Day
Family concerns “essentially caused me to re-evaluate my decision to run for CFO in 2018. I came to the conclusion I am not able to handle a statewide campaign at this time, so I won’t be running for CFO.” — state Sen. Tom Lee of Hillsborough County.
Bill Day’s Latest
Breakthrough Insights
Wake Up Early?
The Florida Board of Psychology will meet at 8 a.m., Four Points Tallahassee Downtown, 316 West Tennessee St., Tallahassee.
The Florida Commission on Ethics is scheduled to meet at 8:30 a.m., 1st District Court of Appeal, 2000 Drayton Dr., Tallahassee.
The Florida Commission on Access to Civil Justice, which is working on ways to help low-income people have access to courts, will meet in Orange County at 9 a.m., DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld, 10100 International Dr., Orlando.
The state Board of Nursing Home Administrators will meet in Central Florida at 9 a.m., Embassy Suites by Hilton, 4955 Kyngs Heath Road, Kissimmee.
The Florida Public Service Commission will take up a series of utility-industry issues at 9:30 a.m., Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is scheduled to release March unemployment figures at 10 a.m.
Northwest Florida lawmakers will discuss the 2018 legislative session during a meeting of the Panhandle Tiger Bay Club at noon, Skopelos at New World, 600 South Palafox St., Pensacola.
Republican candidate for Governor Adam Putnam will be the keynote speaker at the Osceola County Republican Executive Committee’s Lincoln Day Dinner. That’s at 7 p.m., Gaylord Palms, 6000 W. Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee.
Republican U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz will hold a town-hall meeting in Escambia County at 6:30 p.m., Navy Federal Credit Union, 5510 Heritage Oaks Dr., Pensacola.
The Miami-Dade County Republican Party will hold its annual Lincoln Dinner, with speakers expected to include U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. That’s at 7:30 p.m., DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Miami Airport and Convention Center, 711 N.W. 72nd Ave., Miami.
