‘Predatory’ gambling expansion easily passed by Legislature

Pro-life measures fail, tax exemptions retained

May 18, 2009
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor

Click on image for related coverage

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—An expansion of gambling pro-family leaders deem “predatory” easily passed May 8 as the Florida Legislature concluded its extended annual session.

In addition to the disappointment on gambling legislation, Florida Baptist Convention legislative consultant Bill Bunkley expressed regret that pro-family bills died during the legislative session and appreciation for pushing back legislation to repeal sales tax exemptions for churches and religious organizations.

The gambling measure—passed 31-9 in the Senate and 82-35 in the House of Representatives combining together into one bill what was previously two bills—authorizes Gov. Charlie Crist to negotiate a compact with the Seminole Indian Tribe, giving them exclusive rights to blackjack, bacarrat and chemin de fir games at its casinos in Broward and Hillsborough counties, and Las Vegas-style slot machines at all of its seven casinos.

The legislation provides various enhancements to the pari-mutuel industry in the state to “level the playing field” with the Tribe for horse tracks, dog tracks, quarter horse tracks and jai alai frontons across the state.

“It is a tragic day when only 44 out of 160 legislators are willing to stand in the gap to protect Floridians from predatory gambling,” Bunkley told Florida Baptist Witness, reflecting on the combined total of House and Senate members who voted against the bill.

BUNKLEY

Two days before the vote, pro-family leaders issued a statement in response to an agreement on the gambling package by legislative leaders calling the measure “the largest expansion of predatory gambling in Florida’s history.”

Florida Baptist leader Bunkley; Dennis Baxley, executive director of Christian Coalition of Florida; Nathan Dunn, vice president of Florida Family Action; and John Stemberger, president of Florida Family Policy Council, said, “It is economically and morally wrong for the government to foster predatory gambling in our state which merely preys upon the weakness, poverty and financial loss of Floridians for the sake of profit.”

Crist—who lobbied heavily for the compact in the wake of the Florida Supreme Court’s 2008 decision that invalidated his agreement with the Seminoles—hailed passage of the legislation in a statement issued shortly after the vote.

“I applaud the Florida House and Senate for coming together on an agreement that will help bring billions of dollars to Florida schools during the next 15 years. Their hard work will improve the quality of life of students, teachers, and all Floridians for generations to come,” Crist said.

During consideration of the measure in both bodies, few legislators offered criticism. A notable exception was Sen. Ronda Storms (R-Valrico).

The only legislator in either the House or Senate to speak forcefully against the bill, Storms called it “a huge mistake,” telling the Senate “we will live to regret this mistake” of approving a bill allowing “yea, even encouraging” citizens to gamble “so that we may subsidize our budget.”

The legislation directs money from the Seminole compact to be placed in the state Education Trust Fund.

Storms, a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Brandon, also talked about the negative consequences of “predatory gambling,” pointing to the case of a man who committed suicide May 2 at the Tampa Hard Rock casino—a Seminole facility.

Giving voice to “millions of Floridians” who are concerned about gambling expansion and who deserve to be heard in the Legislature “without ridicule and without abuse,” Storms said the legislation will encourage people to gambling even to their own harm as Floridians are given easier access to wagering options.

Storms also decried “big gambling” for the industry’s pursuit of even persons who have recognized their gambling addiction and “put themselves on the no gambling list.”

Although the industry was recently fined $800,000 for pursuing such gambling addicts, Storms said the industry continues to go after those persons because they “gamble to extinction.”

Bunkley had high praise for Storms’ lonely stand against the bill.

“As the only person to rise up and speak against this legislation, I salute Ronda Storms as a hero in the fight against predatory gambling, valiantly representing Floridians who are still opposed to gambling,” Bunkley told the Witness.

“Today’s final votes in both the House and the Senate clearly indicate there is work to be done to educate the members of the Florida Legislature about the harmful effects of predatory gambling,” he added.

Having passed the legislation authorizing the governor to negotiate the compact with the Seminoles, Crist now has until Aug. 31 to come to an agreement with the Tribe within the confines of the legislation. The finalized compact will then have to be ratified by the Legislature.

(For a detailed description of the legislation, see May 7 online-only story on the Witness Web site, “Legislative leaders agree to expand gambling.”)

Bunkley said he is now shifting his focus to how the Seminoles will respond to the legislation, speculating they may decide the measure does not “give them the level of exclusivity they had anticipated.”

Whatever the outcome, Bunkley added, “We will continue to advocate from anti-expansion position throughout the negotiations.”

The gambling issue was pressed on the Legislature because Crist negotiated an agreement with the Seminoles in 2007 allowing Las Vegas-style slot machines and certain games—like blackjack and baccarat—that are currently illegal. The Florida Supreme Court—in response to a suit filed by then House Speaker Marco Rubio—invalidated the compact in 2008, finding the governor lacked the authority to enter into the agreement.

On other matters of interest to Florida Baptists during the legislative session, Bunkley noted:

•Sales tax exemptions for churches and religious organization. Bunkley said he was able to convince legislative leaders to decline to move legislation to remove sales tax exemptions for churches, although discussion on the removal of sales tax exemptions for religious items—including Bibles—was considered by a House committee.

“I spoke in that committee in opposition to the lifting of the exemption and after a spirited exchange with one committee member, we are pleased that the issue never surfaced again,” Bunkley told the Witness.

•Ultrasound abortion (HB 983/SB 1854). Legislation that would require women considering abortion during the first trimester be given the option of viewing an ultrasound image of the unborn child did not reach either floor of the Legislature. Similar legislation failed in the 2008 legislative session on a 20-20 vote in the Senate.

Bunkley said Senate leadership failed to respond to appeals to allow the bill to be heard in the first committee, effectively killing the legislation.

“I have wondered about how many babies we might have saved the last half of this year had the legislation been approved,” he said.

•Marriage preparation. Bills to encourage greater marriage preparation failed to move in either house.

The legislation was a package of two bills (SB 2310/SB 2306 and HB 1185/1187) that would increase the marriage license fee to $193.50, but increase the current discount of $32.50 for four hours of pre-marital education to $132.50 for eight hours of such education. For each couple which declines the pre-marital education, $100 would be transferred to the Marriage Education Trust Fund to provide grants to organizations that help strengthen marriage, according to the Florida Family Policy Council, the lead organization supporting the legislation.

“We’ll be back next year to urge this much needed counseling,” Bunkley said. “The divorce rate in this state is unacceptable and we must be vigilant in helping couples develop the necessary skills to maintain a life long commitment.”

•Homosexual adoptions (HB 413/SB 500). Legislation to repeal the state’s longstanding ban on adoptions by homosexuals failed to receive serious consideration in the Legislature.

Bunkley credited Sen. Storms, chair of the Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee, for her unwillingness to allow the bill to be heard.

Email this Article Print this page