Florida sues federal government

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Attorney General Bill McCollum is suing to stop the federal government from approving an agreement between Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe that will allow expanded gambling at Indian casinos.

The U.S. Interior Department is reviewing last month's compact to allow Las Vegas-style slots and card games like blackjack and baccarat at the Seminole's seven casinos.

McCollum believes the department shouldn't approve the agreement until the state Supreme Court has a chance to determine whether the Legislature also has to approve the compact. House Speaker Marco Rubio and Senate President Ken Pruitt are challenging Crist's authority to enter into the agreement on his own.

"He certainly has the right to do that. I respect that," Crist said of the lawsuit. "That's fine."

"The attorney general's lawsuit makes perfect sense," Rubio said. "Rather than rush to authorize illegal casino gambling, federal officials should allow our Supreme Court to first decide whether the governor can unilaterally bind Florida to an Indian gambling compact."

Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie; and federal officials did not return phone messages seeking comment.

McCollum said he sued to avoid having the tribe install games and then possibly have the Supreme Court rule Crist lacked the authority to make the agreement on his own. He said it is not an attempt to permanently stop the compact from being enacted.

He said he told the governor's office his plans to sue Thursday morning.

"I don't think it's a surprise to them that we were going to do it, it was a matter of when we were going to do it," McCollum said. "Everybody can see the need to do this."

The Interior Department has until Dec. 29 to approve the compact. The Supreme Court will hold arguments on the case Jan. 30.

"We have in this situation a very questionable act on the part of the governor that the state Supreme Court is well within its bounds to look at," McCollum said.

Under the agreement, the state would get $50 million immediately and $100 million guaranteed in the first year. In the second year, the state is guaranteed $125 million and at least $150 million in the third year.

Following that, the amount depends on revenues -- but everyone involved in the negotiations said it will quickly add up to billions.