Allan Bense

As chairman of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the recognized voice of Florida business, we believe Florida’s future should not be for sale. There’s never a good time for a bad idea, and betting Florida’s future on expanded gambling is a very bad idea.

Like a kid in a candy store, out-of-state investors and foreign-based companies are betting that Floridians can be lured by the sweet talk of a royal flush at the risk of Florida’s long-term economic future. That’s because they want to build the largest casino on the face of the planet in Florida.

In this tough national economy, working Floridians are courageously confronting the difficult daily challenge of taking care of their families. The unemployed Floridians who earnestly want to work are applying for jobs and hoping they will find a way to take care of their families.

We owe all of these Floridians a strong, smart, strategic plan to build a growing and diverse economy -- for today and tomorrow. That requires a continued commitment to creating a strong educational system, a fair regulatory framework, a skilled work force, and a quality of life that will attract knowledge-based jobs and companies to Florida.

The good news is, Florida has made significant progress toward building a great future. Florida’s education system is now ranked in the Top 5 by Education Weekly. Major research institutes like Scripps, Torrey Pines, SRI and Burnham are pioneering biomedical breakthroughs from their Florida-based offices. The Port of Miami is undergoing transformation to compete for the larger, post-Panamax ships that will soon come through the expanded Panama Canal. And 16 Fortune 500 companies from diverse industries call Florida “home.”

Orlando’s Lake Nona medical city and its growing simulation industries are examples of what is possible when a region and a state aim for the top.

Florida deserves that kind of vision. It’s the same vision that has consistently driven the Florida Chamber to push for expanded manufacturing, trade, innovation, research and development, transportation, and the resulting growth in jobs, including commercial construction-related jobs.

An economic downturn is an empty excuse by a giant global casino gambling corporation to tempt Florida into risky quick-buck solutions that are actually incompatible with our state’s strategy for long-term prosperity. It’s a hard push to highjack Florida’s future -- to line their pockets.

The proposal promises to limit these out-of-state casino developments to only three, but the hidden truth is the building plan being proposed by a Malaysian corporation would be big enough to hold six of the largest and newest casinos in Las Vegas.

This sketchy scheme would forever redefine Florida, our economy and our quality of life -- antithetical to the proud family-friendly heritage that is the current reality for our residents and tens of millions of tourists.

Proponents boast new jobs and tax revenues by rolling the dice and changing Florida’s economic landscape. The sobering truth: the only guaranteed winners in this questionable game of craps with Florida’s future would be foreign and out-of-state casino owners who are sure to reap massive profits at the expense of Florida’s jobs and future.

The casualties include time-honored small and large businesses that likely will go out of business and lay off Floridians. Let’s not forget the thousands of individuals who will tragically fall victim to compulsive gambling, devastated families left destitute and victims of casino-related crime as evidenced in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and other casino-dominant economies.

Las Vegas-style casino gambling won’t solve our state’s short-term economic challenges -- and it won’t build a stronger foundation for our economic future.

Do we want Florida to be more like Vegas? Nevada has the highest foreclosure rate in the U.S. -- nearly 400 percent that of Florida. Nevada also has America’s highest unemployment rate -- nearly 30 percent higher than Florida’s. So, if casino gambling is so good for long-term economic growth, why are there no Fortune 500 companies, other than three giant casino companies, headquartered in Nevada?

Florida can do much better than risking its economy and future on the expansion of Vegas-style casino gambling. The Florida Chamber will ask Florida’s leaders to agree with our plan to protect Florida’s future. We will ask them to agree that what happens in Vegas should stay in Vegas.

This is a guest column by Allan Bense, chairman of the board of directors for the Florida Chamber of Commerce and a partner with GAC Contractors Inc. in Panama City.  He served as speaker of the Florida House of Representatives from 2004-2006.