Associated Industries of Florida declared Thursday that it was making the passage of the destination resorts bill its highest priority next legislative session, putting one of Florida’s most powerful lobbying groups squarely at odds with the Florida Chamber of Commerce and other business-oriented lobbying groups.
AIF said in a press release Thursday that bringing the luxury “destination resort” casinos to South Florida will be “the greater job creator in the state’s recent history.”
Brewster Bevis, the group’s vice president of External Relations, said these resorts could help bring jobs to 10 percent of the state’s unemployed.
The Florida Chamber of Commerce, siding with large employers such as Walt Disney Co., opposes allowing destination resorts because it could negatively impact existing businesses.
Various other business lobbying groups have chosen to side for or against destination resorts, making this the rare issue that has split the business community in Florida.
