Senate Starts Moving On Florida Gambling Overhaul
January 26, 2017
With little discussion and virtually no debate, a Senate panel unanimously signed off Wednesday on a sweeping gambling plan proposed by one of the chamber’s most powerful members.
But while Sen. Bill Galvano’s proposal is on a speedy Senate track, the House is expected to take a much more conservative approach to a redesign of the state’s gambling footprint.
Galvano’s legislation would broadly expand the presence of slots in Florida, by allowing the machines at pari-mutuels in eight counties — Brevard, Duval, Gadsden, Hamilton, Lee, Palm Beach, St. Lucie and Washington — where voters have approved them. Galvano, who is slated to become Senate president after the 2018 elections, is also proposing another slot-machine license each in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
The bill (SB 
would also allow jai alai operators, greyhound tracks and all but thoroughbred horse track operators to do away with live racing or games while still keeping more lucrative gambling activities like cardrooms or slots, a process known as “decoupling.”
The measure, if passed, would only go into effect if lawmakers also approve a new gambling agreement, called a “compact,” with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Galvano told the Senate Regulated Industries Committee during an explanation of the 112-page bill Wednesday.
Lawmakers are again considering broad gambling legislation as House and Senate leaders work with Gov. Rick Scott’s administration to hash out a new compact with the tribe.
The negotiations come after a portion of a 20-year compact expired in 2015. That portion gave the tribe the exclusive rights to operate “banked” card games such as blackjack.
Despite the expiration, a federal judge ruled in November that the Seminoles could continue to offer blackjack because the state had breached the agreement by permitting controversial “designated player” games at pari-mutuel cardrooms. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle ruled that the designated player games violate a state law prohibiting games in which players bet against the house.
Galvano’s soup-to-nuts proposal, which would legalize the designated player games, would also resolve litigation awaiting a decision from the Florida Supreme Court. The lawsuit, filed by Gretna Racing, is focused on whether gambling operators can add slots if county voters give the go-ahead, even without the express permission of the Legislature.
Galvano told the Senate committee Wednesday that his plan would inject certainty “in a dubious marketplace” by “creating funding opportunities,” spurring economic development and resolving litigation.
The Senate plan would also establish regulations for the fantasy sports industry, requiring an initial $500,000 licensure fee and an annual $100,000 renewal fee for major operators like FanDuel and DraftKings. Questions have been raised in other states about whether fantasy sports are a form of illegal gambling.
“This bill, if it were to pass unchanged and I cannot in good faith tell you that unless we’re playing fantasy amusement, but the gross impact on our annual budget would be $450 million, the net impact would be $375 (million),” Galvano told the committee. “It’s a significant dollar amount, but again it is a comprehensive approach to move us forward on the journey with the tribe … and (gaming) interests.”
The bill addresses “gaming and all of its components comprehensively” and “has been designed purposely so that the interest of each is ultimately dependent on the interests of others,” he said.
“We have a very comprehensive bill here. I believe it is a solid vehicle to move forward. But this type of legislation is very unique. Unlike most legislation where you have a back and forth with your counterparts and you’re seeking the approval of your governor, we have injected into this a sovereign (Seminole) nation,” he said, referring to the gambling deal as a game of “three-dimensional chess.”
Industry insiders have referred to Galvano’s bill as a “Christmas tree” for pari-mutuel operators, but he rejected the notion that his plan is an industry wish list.
“These are not issues that we just came up with,” Galvano, R-Bradenton, told reporters after the meeting. “These are all issues that were pursued and discussed in committees. They are a reality for the tribe and the House to contend with if we are going to get resolution.”
Unlike the Senate bill, the House could focus on shrinking the state’s gambling operations.
“The House bill will be a conservative approach to gaming that will put contraction front and center. But the details are still being worked out,” House Commerce Committee Chairman Jose Felix Diaz, R-Miami, said in a telephone interview Wednesday.
Galvano — who, as a House member, was instrumental in crafting the 20-year compact with the Seminoles — and Diaz are the Legislature’s chief negotiators with the tribe and the governor’s office after lawmakers failed to give the requisite approval last year to a deal struck by Scott.
“The compact that was executed last year is no longer the starting place for either chamber,” Diaz said.
Instead, both the House and Senate are crafting bills that lay out parameters for “how the compact should look,” he explained.
“We’re now spending time fleshing out the details of the two proposals to see if we can get to a realistic, passable bill,” Diaz said.
Galvano said the tribe is aware of his bill, and he expects to receive input from the Seminoles — who have paid the state more than $120 million even after the banked card games portion of the compact expired — soon.
“We all want to get something done,” he said.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Teams Needed For Cade Allen Benefit Softball Tournament
January 26, 2017
A two-day Cade’s Benefit Softball Tournament will be held February 3-4 at the Don Sutton Ballpark in Molino.
There will be 12 teams maximum, with at least 10 people on each team. Teams must have three females on the field with at least four females on the team.
$15 per person with funds due to Friday, January 27 to Amy Holland in Northview High School’s front office. For more information, Call Amanda Pritchett at (850) 418-2502.
Northview student Cade Allen had surgery in Orlando during Christmas break and suffered severe complications that have kept him unconscious and in ICU.
Molino Park Students Dress As 100-Year Olds
January 26, 2017
Molino Park Elementary School students celebrated the 100th day of the school year this week by dressing up like 100-year olds.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
No Serious Injuries In Highway 97 Two Vehicle Crash
January 26, 2017
There were no serious injuries in a two vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon on Highway 97 at at Pilgrim Trail. The Florida Highway Patrol has not released details on the 4:#0 p.m. accident. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Tate High Wrestling Places At Gator Brawl
January 26, 2017
Tate High School’s wrestling team recently traveled to Wewahitchka High School for the Gator Brawl. Nine Aggies placed in the top ten, while six received medals.
Jacob Cochran — 1st, 106 pounds
Lee Pedicord — 12th, 106 pounds
Noah Kryfka — 3rd, 113 pounds
Alex Porter — 1st, 120 pounds
Matthew Blalock — 3rd, 126 pounds
Derek Cannon — 9th, 126 pounds
Alex Ludgate — 8th, 132 pounds
Kendall Townley — 1st, 138 pounds
Juan Alvarez — 3rd, 152 pounds
Alex Young — 10th, 170 pounds
The Tate Aggies placed fifth overall, with five wrestlers not able to attend.
Pictured: (Front, L-R) Coach Reggie Allen, Matthew Blalock, Kendall Townley, Juan Alvarez, Jacob Cochran, Derek Cannon, (back) Noah Kryfka, Lee Pedicord, Alex Porter, Alex Young and Alex Ludgate. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
IP Explosion: Goal Is To Reopen Mill, Get Employees Back To Work
January 25, 2017
The International Paper mill in Cantonment sat idle Tuesday afternoon, an unfamiliar sight to locals with no steam rising from the plant. There is no production underway, with most of its hundreds of employees not at work. But Mill Manager Bretton Dejong said Tuesday that the company plans to put employees back to work as soon as possible.
“The company is committed to reestablishing operations at this facility,” Dejong said. “Exactly how long that will take is yet to be determined. We have staff coming from all over the company…experts that can help us step through this process safely and get our folks back to work where they need to be.”
“Our immediate goal is to get folks back to work, recognizing the work may be a little different than where they were before we started this incident,” he said. “We have a lot of needs as you can imagine tying to get the facility back into some semblance of cleanup, remediation on site, following up with the processes we need to put in place to reestablish safe operation.”
“With the expertise of our team members here, we couldn’t hire anyone better to help us do that. they know the place,” the mill manager continued. “They are going to be the ones to help us get our feet back under us.”
Dejong did not provide any timetable for bringing employees back to work or returning the mill to operation.
International Paper has set up a hotline for residents. Individuals with questions or concerns pertaining to Sunday night’s incident can contact the information hotline at (850) 968-4208. The number is available 24 hours a day until further notice.
Pictured top: The International Paper mill in Cantonment sits idle Tuesday afternoon, following a Sunday night explosion (below). NorthEcambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Boy Scouts Learn About First Responders
January 25, 2017
Boy Scout Troop 430 of Molino visited the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue Tuesday night to learn what it is like to be a first responder. They also learned about fire trucks and scene safety. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Candidate Field Set For Century Special Election
January 25, 2017
The candidates are set for a special election in the Town of Century.
Qualified Candidates Council Seat 2:
- Luis Gomez, Jr.
- Kevin Stead
Qualified Candidate Council Seat 3:
- Benjamin D. Boutwell
Based on the number of candidates who have qualified, there will only be one election on February 28. Since there is only one candidate in the Council Seat 3 contest, the ballot will only have the Council Seat 2 race on the ballot.
Registration book closing for the February 28 election will be on January 30. New voter registration applications need to be postmarked or submitted to a voter registration agency by close of business on January 30.
Anyone who wishes to request a vote-by-mail ballot should visit EscambiaVotes.com and click “Vote by Mail”, or contact the Supervisor of Elections Office at 595-3900. The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot for the election is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 22. To track your vote-by-mail ballot, visit EscambiaVotes.com and click “Track My Ballot.”
Lawmakers Push For Fracking Ban In Florida
January 25, 2017
Trying to end a debate about the possibility of fracking in Florida, a bipartisan group of lawmakers Tuesday backed a proposed ban on the controversial method of drilling for oil and natural gas.
“This bill is concise and straightforward: It bans fracking of all types in Florida,” said Sen. Dana Young, a Tampa Republican who filed the proposal (SB 442) on Tuesday.
The bill, which will be considered during the legislative session that starts March 7, comes after heavy debate during the 2016 session about a measure that would have created a regulatory framework for fracking in the state. The House passed the measure, which died in the Senate amid widespread opposition from environmentalists who argued it could open the door to fracking.
Young appeared at a news conference Tuesday with a coalition of Republican and Democratic lawmakers, including Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, and House Minority Leader Janet Cruz, D-Tampa. The group did not include top House Republican leaders.
Florida Petroleum Council Executive Director David Mica released a statement that said the proposed ban is out of step with consumers who see benefits from domestic energy production.
“The United States is the leading producer of oil, natural gas and refined product in the world, and the decades-old technique of hydraulic fracturing has led to lower energy costs for consumers and improvements in the environment,” Mica said in the statement. “Sen. Dana Young’s proposed ban could undermine the benefits that Florida families and consumers are seeing today.”
Oil and natural-gas drilling has taken place in parts of Northwest Florida and Southwest Florida for decades. But the possibility that drilling could involve fracking, short for hydraulic fracturing, has spurred the legislative debate — similar to debates in other parts of the country where the method has become commonly used.
The method, in part, involves injecting water, sand and chemicals underground to create fractures in rock formations, allowing natural gas and oil to be released. While supporters say fracking increases production and holds down energy costs, opponents argue it threatens water supplies and can cause environmental damage.
During the news conference Tuesday, Young pointed to limestone formations in Florida and said fracking in the state “makes no sense.”
“Sometimes technology gets ahead of Mother Nature in a bad way,” said Sen. Gary Farmer, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat who also took part in the news conference. “I think this is an example.”
Fracking became a key issue is some legislative campaigns last year, including in Young’s race for a Hillsborough County Senate seat and in Sen. Keith Perry’s race in a North Florida district. Perry, R-Gainesville, is co-introducing Young’s proposed ban. Both served in the House last year and voted for the regulatory bill.
Young and Latvala, who helped kill the 2016 bill, said lawmakers had differences of opinion about the potential effects of last year’s measure. But the lawmakers at Tuesday’s news conference said they want to end the debate about fracking with an outright ban.
“What we do today is not for us, but for the next generation,” Perry said. “This kind of legislation that’s protecting the natural environment that we all enjoy, and need to save for future generations, should be one of our top priorities as we go forward in this session.”
But Mica said Florida shouldn’t “move backwards when the gains of energy security are important for Florida families.”
“The technology has been proven safe, and Florida is realizing the economic and environmental benefits of its use,” he said.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Northview Football Players Read To Byrneville Elementary Students
January 25, 2017
Several senior Northview High School football players read to students at Byrneville Elementary School on Tuesday for National Literacy week. Players reading to students were Luke Ward (#1), Devin Stabler (#11), Dustin Bethea (#52), Alston Wiggins (#54), Hunter Cofield (#55) and Dillon Clary (#60).
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
