TALLAHASSEE – A legal battle between backers of a citizen initiative to expand casino gaming and groups with ties to the Seminole Tribe is heating up.
In a recent court filing, the defendants accused Grassfire LLC, a plaintiff in the case, of paying its employees based on the number of petitions they collect.
It was two years ago that state lawmakers outlawed the practice.
Under the 2019 law, paying petition circulators based on the number of signatures they collect is first degree misdemeanor.
Rep. Mike Beltran was a co-sponsor of the bill.
“We don’t allow people to do that because it corrupts the process. Then people have an incentive to fabricate or doctor additional signatures in order to make additional money,” said Beltran.
The new court filings the legal battle between supporters and opponents of a casino gaming citizen initiative suggest the practice hasn’t stopped.
A sample employee contract found on Grassfire LLC’s website offers bonuses for employees as they reach petition benchmarks.
“They say they want core values and the courage to do the right thing, and on the face of the document, they’re violating the law,” said Beltran.
Beltran argued that the intent of the law is clear.
“It doesn’t say if you pay them an hourly wage you can give them a bonus. It doesn’t say that you have to pay them a base hourly wage. It doesn’t say anything. It says you may not compensate them based upon the number of petition forms gathered,” said Beltran.
In the court filing, it’s...
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