The Knuckleheads of the Day award

Today's winner is the US Interior Department and its assistant secretary of Indian Affairs, Carl Artman. They get the award for the following.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- The federal government told Gov. Charlie Crist that it will take steps to allow expanded gambling in Seminole Indian casinos if he doesn't reach an agreement with the tribe by Nov. 15.

In a letter sent to Crist's office Monday, the U.S. Interior Department's assistant secretary of Indian Affairs told Crist that the tribe is at a disadvantage because Las Vegas style slots -- or Class III machines -- are allowed at some dog and horse tracks and jai alai frontons, but not in Indian casinos.

"The Department has a responsibility to the Tribe," wrote Carl Artman, who referred to the 2004 constitutional amendment that allowed slots at Broward County pari-mutuels. "This leaves the Tribe on an unfair playing field if it is allowed only Class II games."

If a tribal-state compact is not signed by the deadline, "Please be advised that the Department will issue Class III gaming procedures," Artman wrote.

I haven't paid much attention to the Seminole indians and their casino in Broward County. So I will let Bob at the Daily Pulp explain why this gets today's award.

An unfair playing field? Who the hell is Artman kidding? The Seminoles pay no taxes and aren't regulated while the parimutuels are paying an effective 62 percent tax rate on their slots. Now the feds are trying to push Crist into giving away the store -- in the form of a monopoly on card table games like blackjack -- to the Seminoles at the expense of businesses that are actually beholden to the state? I know Artman and the Department of Interior have a responsibility to the Tribe, but what about to taxpayers?

The Indians get a free ride, and Florida gets the bill. Especially for things like the heavily traveled roads people take back and forth to the casino. Thanks Bob for the hat tip. For forgetting the State of Florida, US Interior Department and its assistant secretary of Indian Affairs, Carl Artman are today's Knuckleheads of the Day.

Linked to- Adam, Bright & Early, Leaning Straight Up, Morewhat, Outside the Beltway, Perri Nelson, Pirate's Cove, Right Wing Nation, Rosemary, Third World County, Yankee Sailor, The World According to Carl,