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Judge won't halt gaming proposal
He wanted proof that the Seminole tribe's deal will cause harm.
By STEVE HUETTEL, Times Staff Writer
Published January 5, 2008
A U.S. judge denied Attorney General Bill McCollum's request Friday to block federal approval of a deal that would allow expanded gambling at the Seminole Tribe of Florida's casinos. The decision by District Judge Paul Friedman in Washington, D.C., clears the way for the Interior Department's decision sanctioning the agreement between Gov. Charlie Crist and the tribe to become final Monday. McCollum sued the agency, saying the move would let the casinos offer Las Vegas-style slot machines and Florida's first legal games of blackjack before the state Supreme Court decides whether Crist could sign the deal without legislative approval. But Friedman rejected the argument, saying there was no proof the state would be irreparably harmed. "If the Supreme Court says it's void, it's void," he said during an hourlong hearing Friday. "While there may be a theoretical problem, it's unlikely to be a real problem." House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, and Senate President Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, filed suit asking the Supreme Court to decide if Crist overstepped his authority. The court will hear arguments in the case Jan. 30. Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
[Last modified January 4, 2008, 22:51:58]
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by Gary
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01/05/08 09:54 PM
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Why would Florida even consider NOT accepting the deal? With the state in need of funds and a way to help control taxes, it should be a "no-brainer".
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by Richard
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01/05/08 02:46 PM
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Why don't Rubio and Pruitt just shut up and do some work. Crist had no choice but to make the deal or the state would have lost everything. Rubio and Pruitt aren't endearing themselves with the public on this one.
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by tom
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01/05/08 02:44 PM
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How many times must we vote these fellas down? Find the effect casinos have on crime horror and despair in other areas. The numbers may be available. And while we're at it how about cheap legal heroin? We'll use more. Harlots, thugs--
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by Raptor
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01/05/08 09:41 AM
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Reason prevails. Lets put this bogus issue to rest once and for all. Gaming is good for business,charities and Florida's tax coffers. God knows we need the money it generates since the Governor and Legislature want to cut,cut and cut needed services
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by Aida
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01/05/08 05:30 AM
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Yipeeee, this would only increase tourism, which would be beneficial to Florida's economy. The kick that we certainly NEED!
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