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Florida May Reconsider Expanding Gambling

"King, a Jacksonville Republican, said senators will take up a bill during the spring legislative session that would allow video lottery games -- similar to slot machines -- at greyhound tracks, horse tracks and jai alai frontons.

"It's unclear whether the Senate will pass the bill or whether the House and Gov. Jeb Bush would go along. But King said it could help solve budget problems that worsened this month when voters approved a constitutional amendment requiring smaller school class sizes.

"…Bush has repeatedly opposed plans to expand gambling in past years. But he indicated last week that he might reconsider if faced with raising taxes or making severe cuts to pay for smaller class sizes.

"…The video-lottery issue is nothing new: At the urging of the gambling industry, lawmakers have filed bills since at least 1999 seeking to allow video lottery machines. But the bills have received few hearings and have died.

"…Sen. Steve Wise, a Jacksonville Republican who has opposed the idea in the past, said he would vote against a new bill, saying it would put Florida on a `slippery slope' with gambling.

"…Incoming House Speaker Johnnie Byrd, R-Plant City, said he also opposes expanded gambling. But Byrd said he was interested in ways to help the pari-mutuel industry, which has been hurt in recent years by competition from such things as the state lottery, gambling cruise ships, Indian gambling halls and Internet gaming…"

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