Florida Did Not Ban Computers & Mobile Phones

Progressive are having fun linking to a Huffington Post article about Florida accidentally banning all computers and mobile phone devices. The truth is the HB 155 was written for internet cafe computers "adapted" to be gambling games.

(1) As used in this chapter, the term "slot machine or device" means any machine or device or system or network of devices that is adapted for use in such a way that, upon activation, which may be achieved by, but is not limited to, the insertion of any piece of money, coin, account number, code, or other object or information, such device or system is directly or indirectly caused to operate or may be operated and if the user, whether by application of skill or by reason of any element of chance or any other outcome unpredictable by the user, may:

(a) Receive or become entitled to receive any piece of money, credit, allowance, or thing of value, or any check, slug, token, or memorandum, whether of value or otherwise, which may be exchanged for any money, credit, allowance, or thing of value or which may be given in trade; or

(b) Secure additional chances or rights to use such machine, apparatus, or device, even though the device or system may be available for free play or, in addition to any element of chance or unpredictable outcome of such operation, may also sell, deliver, or present some merchandise, indication of weight, entertainment, or other thing of value. The term "slot machine or device" includes, but is not limited to, devices regulated as slot machines pursuant to chapter 551.

Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida legislature didn't ban computers and mobile phones. If you plan on rigging your phone or computer into a gambling machine then you would be breaking the law. I don't imahine anyone plans to turn their iPhone into a slot machine.

Consuelo Zapata, owner of Incredible Investments, LLC, claimed in a lawsuit against the State Attorney's office of Miami-Dade County that HB 155 has banned all computers and mobile phones. Zapata claims that his internet cafe is just providing a public service of help people get on the web. Zapata's attorney stated in the complaint that the plaintiff's internet cafe runs game promotions. The game promotions is what cafe owners that have conducted gambling used to legally allow them to have online gambling. That changed after HB 155 became law. If people are paying to gamble on Zapata's computers then it is illegal under Florida law.

Example of How Republicans Can't Govern

The Florida government is in a deficit. The Florida Seminoles gambling compact could bring in an estimated $100 million-a-year in tax revenue. Marco Rubio has taken an anti-tax stance. The Seminoles offered to pay taxes to have slot machines and baccaret. Rubio fought the deal to appease social conservatives. Republican legislators, in their grandstanding, fail to mention that the Seminoles will get new gambling rights through the Department of the Interior.

The deadline is approaching and Republicans aren't even pretending this is about social conservatism.

Lead House negotiator Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, warned that if Crist gives the Seminoles too sweet a deal, lawmakers may throw up their hands and bump the negotiations up to the U.S. Department of the Interior. Doing so would mean the tribe, which is considered an independent nation, would get expanded casino style gambling and the state would be left out in the cold.

At issue is "exclusivity," or how many more games the Seminoles can offer than their competition.

"It's my understanding is that has been their focus," Galvano said during a break in the negotiations.

The gambling industry has been supportive of Galvano. Republicans can not act independantly from lobbyists and contributors. The federal government will grant the Seminoles will get increased gambling rights. The state is in a bad economic downturn. Florida will lose tax dollars if no compact is reached. Galvano and other Republicans have had two years to reach an agreement with the Seminoles. Galvano and other Republican are more concerned about pleasing dog racetracks than dealing with Florida's deficit. Gov. Charlie Crist illegally went around the Florida legislature to an agreement with the Seminoles. The tribe has been a generous contributor to Crist's campaigns. The Seminole compact disaster illustrates how the current GOP refuses to place responsible governing over special interests.

Galvano's threat to the Seminoles is they will not take Seminole tax dollars and the Department of Interior will grant the Seminoles increased gambling priviledges. The Seminoles will still be allowed to run their new games. (They never stopped.) Does anyone believe this intimidates the Seminoles?

Why Crist Pushed Seminole Gambling

There is a nugget in a Miami Herald blog post about Charlie Crist supporter and political consultant George LeMieux that is fascinating. Crist and Lemieux worked on expanding Seminole gambling rights. Former House Speaker Marco Rubio fought against the expansion of Seminole casino gambling. The Florida Supreme Court ruled Crist made the Seminole deal without legislative approval. The Seminoles continued the blackjack and baccarat tables and the legislature, Crist and Seminoles have not been able to work out an agreement.

Crist and Lemieux talked about how the increased gambling revenue would help the state. There is another factor at work.

The Seminoles seem really happy with Crist and RPOF. The Seminole Tribe (since 1996) has donated nearly $912,000 to the state party, with 71 percent of that money coming in since Crist took over state party fundraising once he won the 2006 Republican primary.

Yes, I am cynical enough to believe Crist's main motivation was the Seminoles lobbying money. Why else would Crist go against the anti-gambling social conservatives?

Baccarat Will Save Us All

Governor Charlie Crist has a plan to solve Florida's budget deficit. Everyone plays and loses at baccarat.

Crist clearly is hoping that the prospect of the state drawing a much-needed cash infusion from baccarat, black jack and other games the deal would okay at tribal casinos will eventually wear down opposition. House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, has sued Crist saying he overstepped his authority in approving the compact without seeking approval from the Legislature, with arguments before the Florida Supreme Court set for Jan. 30.

The budget shortfall will be $2 billion for 2008 and it could get be worse if the housing market continues to tank. Sen. Burt Saunders, R-Naples warns, "Our 2009 budget is not going to be any better." The gambling deal with the Seminoles will only bring an estimated $100 million to the state.

I'm on the fence about gambling. If people choice to blow their money that is up to them. If I was Governor, I would probably make the Seminole deal before the Interior Department gave approval without Florida getting a dime. Thankfully, we have Republicans using tax dollars to fight the deal in court. Thank God for fiscal conservatism.

I wish Crist would not sell the gambling deal as the answer to all fiscal foes. It's dishonest and will only put him in a bigger hole when voters wise up. Crist made the same mistake overselling property tax reform. Then again, Crist is an economic iliterate.

The Fissure Between Crist and Rubio

There have always been strains between Marco Rubio and Charle Crist. Rubio wrote a Miami Herald op-ed against the Governor's green policies. The House Speaker published another op-ed against the slot machine deal Crist is negotiating with the Seminoles. These op-eds were about Rubio increasing his profile and his ideological differences with Crist.

Rubio will have the Florida Supreme Court review if Crist can make a gambling agreement with the Seminoles without the Florida legislature's approval. There are valid arguments for legislative involvement in gambling compacts. What Rubio fails to mention if Crist doesn't cut a deal, the U.S. Department of the Interior would step in and Florida would lose an estmated $100 million in tax revenue. The Seminoles will get slot machines.

This has pushed the politically nonconfrontational Crist. Spokeswoman Erin Isaac issued a statement on the Governor's behave.

"We are reviewing the petition. The Governor is disappointed that the actions of the Speaker may delay additional dollars to education."

Chief of Staff George LeMieux came out gunning at Rubio.

"It's easy to be a critic," LeMieux said Monday, as he plopped a copy of Rubio's court petition on his desk. "It's disappointing because the governor is trying to show leadership, and it's not an easy situation ... We were put in a situation with the federal government where the governor felt like he didn't have a choice." LeMieux said Crist negotiated the best deal he could with the state, including a guarantee of at least $100-million a year in revenue to the state.

Rubio's anti-gambling stance makes no sense when Florida is facing a budget shortfall. The Speaker isn't about to propose tax increases and county budgets are hurting from the slumping housing market. The conservative base loves Rubio. Those are the people that put him into power and whom he ideologically agrees with. Ideology trumps common sense in Rubio's world.

Florida Senate Debating Slot Machines

Contrary to what Mr. G believes: Florida is in need of tax revenue.

After years of antigambling battles, Florida's property-tax crisis and shrinking state budget have opened the door for gambling proponents, who persuaded a Senate Committee on Monday to approve expanding slot-machine gambling throughout the state.

To the Senate Regulated Industries Committee, the proposal to allow expansion of so-called ''video lottery terminals'' to about 25 existing parimutuels was a financial issue. Senators talked about the money it could raise -- up to $2 billion a year -- and planned ways to spend the money before it even gets to the full chamber for a vote. And in the 25-minute debate, there was almost no mention of the money's connection to gaming.

Most of the video lottery machines look and play like the Vegas-style slots that are now spinning in Broward County parimutuels. But with so-called Class II machines, players bet against each other and not the house, resulting in lower payouts.

There is a reason the Florida Senate is taking a serious look at allowing more slot machines for tax revenue. Money quote.

First, the state's sales-tax-fueled budget is slowing with the economy.

Slot machine taxes will have as much positive revenue as the lottery. There was a time when pols said the lottery would pay for education. Obviously, that isn't the case.

Florida desperately needs money to build new roads. The state does not have tax fat to burn. Wayne Garcia correctly pointed out that Florida ranks 39th in tax burden

In other news: Charlie Crist is giving the legislature more time to fix property taxes. The plan for homeowners to move part of their Save Our Homes Amendment benefits may not be legal.