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Blotter: Florida House Speaker wants Feds to shut down Seminole casinos
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A regulatory fight between Florida officials and the Native American Seminole tribe has led the Speaker of Florida’s House of Representatives to call on federal authorities to close the tribe’s seven casinos in the state. Since the Seminole Tribe of Florida is considered a sovereign nation and not under the control of the state government, Florida House Speaker Larry Cretul has called on federal authorities to shut down their operations.
The argument stems from an agreement between the tribe and Florida Governor Charlie Crist. In 2007, Crist and tribal representatives agreed to allow for Vegas-style slot machines as well as card games such as blackjack at tribal casinos. However, the state supreme court overruled that agreement a year later, stating that Crist overstepped his authority as governor and that the accord did not get approval from the state’s legislators.
In response, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum sent a letter to the National Indian Gaming Commission requesting that they take immediate action against the Seminole tribe to “cease its illegal activity” until the tribe and the legislature could work out a new agreement. Neither the commission nor the tribe responded to McCollum’s request, and Seminole casinos continued dealing blackjack to their customers.
A spokesman for the tribe expressed his confusion at the Speaker’s response. Gary Bitner reiterated his belief that the tribe is not in violation of any laws by operating blackjack games. The tribe’s premise, according to Bitner, is that the 2007 agreement is still binding and has not been overturned by any federal court ruling or legislative action and, therefore, the tribe has not broken federal law.
Shawn Pensoneau, a spokesman for the National Indian Gaming Commission, said that he also received a letter from Cretul asking them to fine the Seminoles for their continuing violations of Florida law. Pensoneau said that the commission is taking the matter under advisement and has not yet decided what, if any, punitive action to take against the tribe.
In an ironic twist, the city of Tallahassee houses both the state capitol and the campus of Florida State University. What is the mascot for the school’s sports teams? The Seminoles.
23-Oct-2009, 17:41
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