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The drive to bring mega casinos to Florida has already generated multi million dollar profits…for lobbyists in the state capitol. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, even Governor Scott is calling the casino push the full lobbyist employment act.

Governor Rick Scott isn’t sure what he thinks about full fledged mega casinos for Florida, but he’s sure of one thing:

“I think it’s the full employment for lobbyists act,” Scott said. “Every lobbyist seems to be working on it.”

Each meeting to discuss casinos brings a packed house. By one count there are 158 lobbyists working for casinos and other forms of gambling. Reports put total lobbying expenditures well over two million dollars for the year.

In addition to lobbying wars, there are ad wars on TV, aimed primarily at state policy makers.

Political scientists say all this debate over casinos may have a lot more to do with something in your refrigerator, milk and juice, than really trying to pass this legislation.

Peter Schweitzer, author of Throw Them All Out, says milker and juicer bills are not designed to pass quickly.

“The purpose is to simply have it in process, where the stakes are very high, and people have a lot of money at stake so they’re going to be motivated to make campaign contributions again and again and again,” Schweitzer said.

And the casino fight is not two-sided, but three-sided. The first is keeping the status quo, and that includes the Seminoles and no casinos; the second is the push for mega casinos; and in the middle, existing gaming facilities that just want a better tax deal. All are primed and ready to give up campaign cash.

Hundreds of thousands have already been given, most going to the party in power.