Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaMay 24, 2016

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A former state Senator has signed on to represent the backers of a proposed constitutional amendment on gambling. Florida Supreme Court records show Miami attorney Dan Gelber filed a notice of appearance on behalf of Voters In Charge, the committee behind the amendment. Gelber, 55, also was Democratic leader when he served in the House and unsuccessfully […]

Jim RosicaMay 19, 2016

It’s not clear whether a proposed gambling-control amendment will help or hinder the state’s finances. A panel of state economists stalemated this week on the financial impact of the Voter Control of Gambling amendment. The Financial Impact Estimating Conference’s final report was hand-delivered to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of State Ken Detzner on Thursday. A summary reads: “The […]

Staff ReportsMay 13, 2016

Outpaced and outfoxed, the Seminole Tribe of Florida dropped its bid to block the disclosure of financial information about its casinos. The tribe made the move Friday, shortly after POLITICO printed details of the deposition of casino executive Jim Allen. He runs the tribe’s gambling concerns. The political news website reported that Allen said the Seminoles made $2.4 billion last […]

Gary FineoutMay 13, 2016

The Seminole Tribe of Florida, owner of Florida’s largest casinos, is trying to get a federal judge to block the publication of information related to a trial that could upend their businesses and to seal a key deposition until it can be redacted. Tribal attorneys this week filed an emergency motion seeking to seal a […]

Jim RosicaMay 11, 2016

The panel behind a proposed constitutional amendment on gambling again posted no new fundraising as of its April report. But Voters in Charge has nearly burned through the $195,000 given to it as seed money from the No Casinos anti-gambling expansion organization — awkwardly misspelled in a report as “No Cashinos.” The committee’s campaign finance report […]

Jim RosicaApril 27, 2016

If it’s approved, would a proposed constitutional amendment outlaw currently legal kinds of gambling? A panel of state economic analysts debated the question on Tuesday. The Financial Impact Estimating Conference, a slate of economists for the Legislature and executive branches, held a public workshop in Tallahassee on the Voter Control of Gambling amendment. It would “ensure that Florida […]

Associated PressMarch 29, 2016

A federal judge is pushing back the start of a crucial trial over the future of gambling in Florida. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle agreed Monday to delay until October a trial that will decide whether the Seminole Tribe of Florida can have blackjack tables at their casinos. The trial was initially scheduled for this […]

Jim RosicaMarch 7, 2016

A proposed constitutional amendment to give voters more control over gambling has reported passing the signature threshold to merit consideration by the state’s highest court. The Voter Control of Gambling amendment has 69,336 signatures as of Monday morning, more than the 10 percent of total signatures needed to trigger Florida Supreme Court review. It’s the first step toward […]

Jim RosicaMarch 3, 2016

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The House’s lead negotiator on the Seminole Compact has filed another strike-all onto the troubled gambling legislation. State Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, the Miami Republican who chairs the House Regulatory Affairs Committee, filed his amendment Thursday, the day before the House is scheduled to begin its consideration of gambling legislation for 2016. Diaz was in the […]

Jim RosicaMarch 2, 2016

You can’t keep a good bill – or a bad bill, depending on your viewpoint – down in the Florida Legislature. Wednesday night, the House of Representatives quietly put its rewrite of the Seminole Compact and a proposed constitutional amendment on voter control of gambling on the agenda for Friday’s floor session. The legislation is on the […]

Tag: blackjack
Uloma Ekpete Kama. Image via campaign site.

Dan Gelber will represent anti-gambling amendment

Economists uncertain of gambling amendment’s effect

Seminole Tribe ends court fight after casino finances revealed

Seminole Tribe trying to stop publication of financial info

Gambling amendment group not fundraising

Economists puzzle over proposed gambling amendment

Crucial federal trial over gambling pushed back to fall

Gambling amendment passes first signature threshold

Jose Felix Diaz files more changes to Seminole Compact

House throwing a “Hail Mary” with Seminole Compact?