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Governor Bush is currently in negotiations about slot
machines with the Seminole tribe in Florida, but for all of the talk, both
sides say the other is not willing to negotiate fair terms. The argument
started when Broward County opened their Class III Vegas style slot
machines—now the tribe wants the same style slot machines, and they are
claiming it is their federally granted right to operate the same slot
machines that Broward has.
Well as the debate continues it becomes more evident as to why the state
wants to limit the slot machines. The tribe is not taking into consideration
their proximity to Everglades and the environmental impact slot machines
could have on the endangered species that live in the Everglades. The tribe
has already opened the Big Cypress casino and they refuse to negotiate with
the government which feels like the tribe is not adequately taking into
consideration the environmental balance in that area One of the animals the
casino could potentially further threaten is the currently endangered
Florida Panther. According to a spokesperson for the government, “we believe
that it is not in the best interests of the state of Florida, the national
parks that are in that area, or anyone else for there to be casino
operations [near the Everglades].”
And they won’t even come to an agreement about future expansions. Though the
tribe says they don’t have plans to expand the slot machines casino right
now, they refuse to comply with the government’s request for no further
expansions.
Further compounding the state’s problems with the negotiations is the
tribe’s refusal to pay taxes, or any part of the slot machines revenue to
the state. And the tribe has already taken the issue to the federal level,
specifically to the Department of the Interior. Now that they have agreed to
weigh in on the issue, Bush pledges that he will fight against the slot
machines and the casino until it is resolved.
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