Florida Republicans Back Off Slot Repeal for Now

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - as reported by the Sun Sentinel: "Gov. Jeb Bush and Republican legislative leaders are putting on hold a plan to ask voters to reconsider allowing Las Vegas-style slot machines in Broward County.

"The GOP leaders still support a strategy crafted by gambling foes to ask voters next November to repeal the 2004 citizen initiative authorizing slot machines at Broward's pari-mutuel sites.
 
"But rather than trying to persuade the Legislature during next week's special session to approve a repeal plan, Republican officials now say it's better to hold off on that debate until the spring.

"Bush, Senate President Tom Lee and House Speaker Allan Bense say they have an obligation to first implement the slots mandate. They will attempt to take on that task, they insist, when legislators meet in Tallahassee for next week's five-day special session.

"Legislators will have a number of contentious decisions to make in implementing the gambling mandate, such as what tax rate to set, how many machines the Broward pari-mutuels can install, and what sort of windfall will be allowed to the companies and makers of the machines.

"Rep. Randy Johnson, R-Celebration, first proposed the repeal early this year. He led the anti-slot machines campaign for the No Casinos political committee. He has been trying to get the repeal onto the agenda for next week's special session, and he has filed a special-session bill to get it done. But without support from the GOP leaders, he acknowledged Wednesday that he appears to have lost that fight...."