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It Means Let The Good Times Roll

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Daniel Ruth

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 10, 2008

Do you have the sneaking suspicion if Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio was playing blackjack and found himself holding a 10 of clubs and a king of hearts he would still ask the dealer to hit him with another card?

This is what happens when state government is hijacked by a 12-year-old with all the pragmatic political acumen of Bullwinkle J. Moose.

Consider this bizarre scenario. A perfectly legal organization seeking to improve its business interests in Florida offers to share its profits, committing to pay the state a minimum of $100 million a year in a deal that will result in billions of more dollars dedicated to the public exchequer.

At a time when the state is struggling with massive budgetary shortfalls resulting in the reduction of services, increased costs for education, neglected infrastructure needs and a decline in the ability of first responders to meet public safety needs, you would think the infusion of the generous extra dollars would be met with open arms in Tallahassee.

Peddling Drugs?

Can you name another organization engaged in doing commerce in Florida, which would voluntarily pledge to give up billions of dollars off its bottom line to the state?

This business is not peddling drugs. It is not distributing child pornography. It is not a haven for terrorists. It does not pollute the environment.

But because the deal with the state involved the Seminoles to offer high stakes slot machines as well as enhanced card games such as blackjack and baccarat at its casinos across Florida, Rubio got his knickers in a wad, challenging Gov. Charlie Crist's authority in court to negotiate an agreement with the tribe.

A few days ago, the Florida Supreme Court sided with Rubio, voiding the Seminole agreement and likely setting the stage for a legal pie fight up the federal legal food chain.

Crist, an extremely pragmatic pol, didn't consult a fuddy-duddy like Rubio and the hand-wringing Legislature on the Seminole deal for the simplest of reasons. They would have said - no.

Such A Deal

This would've been like asking Mother Teresa for makeup tips.

As well, Crist took the perfectly reasonable position that as the chief executive officer of the state he was well within his legal authority to negotiate an agreement with the tribe.

Besides, in the absence of a compact with the Seminoles, the tribe still would have been permitted to proceed with enhanced slot machine games under a federal government mandate, leaving the state with - nothing.

Rubio, exuding all the sincerity of Baghdad Bob, argued he was merely trying to protect the interests of parimutuel outlets, which at the moment are prohibited from offering gambling options such as the high-stakes card games the Seminoles provide.

But that is a canard wrapped in fiddle-faddle.

If the Speaker wants an equitable playing field, all he needs to do is create legislation granting the parimutuels the same gaming attractions presently conducted by the Seminoles. Crisis averted.

Would you be willing to bet, say $100 million, Crist would sign that bill faster than you could say: "Laissez les bon temps roulez!"

Keyword: Book of Ruth, to read and comment on Daniel Ruth's blog.

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