By Toluse Olorunnipa, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Friday, July 13, 2012
TALLAHASSEE — Genting Group appears to be intensifying its push to allow voters to make the final decision on whether Las-Vegas style gambling comes to South Florida.
Recently released financing reports show a political action group linked to the Malaysia-based conglomerate is spending big on an apparent campaign to get voters to approve a constitutional amendment in favor of resort-style casinos.
The gaming giant failed to win legislative approval from lawmakers earlier this year, despite spending millions of dollars on lobbying and campaign contributions. Now a Genting-linked political committee — New Jobs and Revenue For Florida — is directing funds toward a potential 2014 voter petition drive, which could offer an alternative path to accomplishing the goal of building multibillion-dollar casino resorts in South Florida.
"New Jobs and Revenue for Florida is an exploratory effort to consider whether or not there are ...