TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam are joining those opposing a plan to bring mega-casinos to South Florida.
The three Cabinet members become the highest profile Republicans to take a stance against the legislation.
Gov. Rick Scott has not taken a firm stance against the proposal, which is expected to be voted on during the session that starts in January. House Speaker Dean Cannon has been skeptical but has not rejected it completely.
Bondi said that one of the reasons she opposes the legislation is because of potential links to criminal activity. She contended that recent drug trafficking convictions in Hillsborough County showed that drug money wound up being routed through the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa.
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