Florida House wins Lottery lawsuit, sending governor another message
TALLAHASSEE — In another rebuke to Gov. Rick Scott and a victory for House Speaker Richard Corcoran, a Leon County Circuit Court judge invalidated a multi-year contract with Lottery Department ticket vendor IGT Global Solutions on Tuesday, saying the agency overstepped its budgetary authority.
The 15-page ruling by Leon County Circuit Court Judge Karen Gievers said that Lottery Secretary Tom Delacenserie "lacked the legal authority to enter into the IGT contract" when he obligated the state to nearly $13 million more than the Legislature authorized.
She agreed with House lawyers that state law prohibits an agency from both soliciting and signing a contract that exceeds the amount of money authorized by the Legislature and declared the contract "void and unenforceable," sending the agency back to the drawing board to sign a lease for the full-service vending machines that provide customers with Powerball and other game tickets.
"Today's decision is a victory for the taxpayer and the rule of law," said Corcoran, R-Land O'Lakes, in a joint statement with Rules Chairman Jose Oliva, R-Miami, and Judiciary Chairman Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor. "It reinforces the idea that respecting the separation of powers is not an arcane idea or an out-of-date philosophy."
Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/florida-house-wins-lottery-lawsuit-sending-governor-another-message/2315745
