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Opinion
Editorial: Negotiate compact with Florida tribes


"Former Gov. Jeb Bush had months to negotiate a deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida over the tribe's plan to operate casino-style slot machines at seven locations around Florida.

He didn't. Now, the tribe is exercising its option to seek approval of slots from federal authorities -- a move that could end Florida's chances of claiming any revenue from, or control over, expanded gambling. It's up to Gov. Charlie Crist to salvage the situation.

Florida won't get any revenues from tribal casinos unless an agreement is in place. Federal authorities mandated that the state strike a deal with the two tribes by November -- or the Department of the Interior would bypass state authorities and issue its own approval. Wednesday, the Seminole Tribe filed suit against the department, demanding the go-ahead to start the slots rolling.

Bush's hard-line stance might have hurt his ability to negotiate with the two tribes. But Crist doesn't carry that baggage, and to his credit, he reached out to the tribes within a week of taking office.

Floridians need to see more. The slots issue may be the first big test of Crist's ability to bargain on their behalf in a difficult situation. It's up to Crist to get both tribes to the bargaining table -- and then make it clear that Florida isn't willing to sign away the proverbial store in order to strike a deal. And it's up to the governor to back his negotiations with a credible pledge to fight slots approval through the administrative process. The stakes are high, but there should still be time to broker a deal that's fair to all concerned."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Gov. Crist vs. the tribes (The Daytona Beach News-Journal 1/22)