The House Select Committee on Seminole Indian Compact Review met Thursday to consider two legislative measures. The Committee heard a bill to ratify the compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Our organization opposes that compact. The Committee voted unanimously to reject the compact. The legislature could address another compact that is negotiated between the Governor and the Seminole Tribe but that particular compact is dead.
The second measure considered by the committee decoupled the previous pari-mutuel changes from the 2009 session that we support from the compact. This bill contained our breeder flexibility language, a tax reduction on slot machines that generates more money for purses and breeders’ awards, the ability to convert a quarterhorse permit to a Thoroughbred permit in our area, and changes to the cardrooms to help the Thoroughbred tracks compete with the other forms of gaming in this state. The Committee approved this bill by a vote of 12-2.
This bill must still be approved by the full House and Senate during the 2010 session but yesterday’s action was certainly a good start for Thoroughbred breeders in Florida.
We will continue to keep you informed of the action in Tallahassee.
– Richard Hancock
FTBOA Executive Vice President
