State bureaucrats have decided to host a public workshop on how to regulate Broward's slot machines hundreds of miles from the voters who approved them and the facilities that will house them. "That's absurd," said Rep. Ron Greenstein, D-Coconut Creek. "The hearings should be in Broward. It just shows their arrogance."
Two days have been set aside to take testimony on everything from how to apply for a slots license to regulating the payout to players to helping compulsive gamblers. But anyone who wants to comment will have to travel to Tallahassee for the sessions scheduled for Feb. 21-22.
"We're doing this for efficiency's sake -- we have a short time frame here -- and because there is a statewide impact," said Meg Shannon, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which includes the Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering.
Under an agreement reached by Florida legislators in a December special session, slot machines will be running by early June.
If the state hasn't established operating rules by then, the county's two horse tracks, dog track and jai-alai fronton will be able to open their slots rooms with emergency permits.
Shannon said agency staff would take note of comments made at the meetings and use them to develop a package of proposed rules.
A second, formal hearing on the final recommendations will be held, but no time or location has been determined.
Eager to open the slots for players, local pari-mutuel venues are grateful the state is moving ahead with rules but also think the people who voted for expanded gaming have a stake in how the machines will be regulated.
"I'd like to see the hearing in Broward for the division to get firsthand experience of what the people here really want," said Dan Adkins, vice president of Hollywood Greyhound and a key architect of the slots drive. "The people who voted for this should have a say."
Meanwhile, a push by gambling opponents to seek voter repeal of the 2004 constitutional amendment allowing slots may be losing steam. Legislative leaders support a repeal but acknowledge they lack the votes to get the issue on the November ballot.
It would take a 60 percent majority of the House and Senate to send the question back to voters.
"I support the repeal. My button will be green when the issue hits the floor," said House Speaker Allan Bense, R-Panama City. "But I'm not sure how much energy it will have in the Senate."
Senate President Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said he wouldn't attempt a discussion of a proposed constitutional amendment to repeal slots unless he first saw movement in the House.
"Right now, I sense that both chambers are struggling to put the votes together. It kind of makes it a little less likely," he said.
Legislators struggled with the issue of slots during the 2005 legislative session and then during a special session in December.
Some say that makes them less inclined to attack the issue again.
"I think everyone has pretty well washed their hands and said, `Thank God that's behind us,'" said Sen. Jim King, R-Jacksonville.
State bureaucrats have decided to host a public workshop on how to regulate Broward's slot machines hundreds of miles from the voters who approved them and the facilities that will house them. "That's absurd," said Rep. Ron Greenstein, D-Coconut Creek. "The hearings should be in Broward. It just shows their arrogance."