'FRISTING' FAVOURED IN FLORIDA GAMBLING VOTE

4 May 2007

Florida politicians take the 'Christmas tree' route

Followers of the US political manipulation surrounding the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act last year became familiar with the terms "earmark" and "Christmas tree," used to describe problematic bills added late to other unrelated but "must pass" legislation.

In the case of the UIGEA, Senators Frist and Kyl masterminded an initiative which saw stalled anti-online gambling legislation before Congress transformed with much wheeling and dealing into the UIGEA. This was then rammed through a late night session of Congress immediately preceding an electioneering recess, and attached to the national security-critical Safe Ports Act.

Reports from the St. Petersburg Times this week indicate that state legislators in Florida are all too familiar with the "Fristing" technique, which was applied to expand the availability of gambling in the state under the controversial rationale of providing more tax revenues to ease the property tax burden on Florida residents.

"On 30 minutes' public notice, a House council passed a bill that would allow 11 existing gambling sites in Florida to add 1, 000 coin- or token-operated video lottery terminals each," reports the newspaper.

"Three affected sites are in the Tampa Bay area: Derby Lane in St. Petersburg, Tampa Bay Downs and Tampa Greyhound Track.

"Backed by a coalition of veteran lobbyists, the video lottery idea surfaced at a time when negotiations on property tax cuts are at impasse, with Floridians demanding relief. The new machines would pump at least $500-million in tax revenue into state coffers each year, which adds much-needed flexibility to tax cut negotiations going on right now.

"…The 26-page video lottery provision was tacked onto an obscure bill HB 1551 giving the Florida Lottery authority to trademark its games. The machines allow gamblers to play a form of bingo against others at the same location.

"Four of the gambling sites are in Miami-Dade, including a jai-alai fronton and the shuttered thoroughbred track in Hialeah. Others are in Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Naples and Ocala…"

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