Kathianne
09-20-2015, 01:22 AM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-donald-trump-tried--and-failed--to-open-a-casino-in-florida/2015/09/18/2e1c5616-5d5f-11e5-8e9e-dce8a2a2a679_story.html
How Donald Trump tried — and failed — to open a casino in Florida
...In a memorable debate confrontation, Bush accused Trump of being a “special interest” who gave him money in the 1990s in hopes of legalizing casino gambling but failed to sway him, because, Bush said, “I’m not going to be bought by anybody.”Trump denied Bush’s claim as “totally false.”
“I promise,” Trump said in the Wednesday night debate, “if I wanted it, I would have gotten it.”
But documents and interviews show Trump did seek to open the door to casino gambling in Florida during Bush’s time. Trump had donated to the state GOP, and, according to Thrasher and another former state official who held meetings on the issue on Bush’s behalf, made his views known in the state capital.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that Trump was interested,” said Thrasher, who is backing Bush’s presidential campaign. “That was the subject of the meetings.”
Moreover, officials said, Trump has remained interested in expanding his casino business into Florida — hiring a Tallahassee lobbyist and meeting with lawmakers in recent years.
...
How Donald Trump tried — and failed — to open a casino in Florida
...In a memorable debate confrontation, Bush accused Trump of being a “special interest” who gave him money in the 1990s in hopes of legalizing casino gambling but failed to sway him, because, Bush said, “I’m not going to be bought by anybody.”Trump denied Bush’s claim as “totally false.”
“I promise,” Trump said in the Wednesday night debate, “if I wanted it, I would have gotten it.”
But documents and interviews show Trump did seek to open the door to casino gambling in Florida during Bush’s time. Trump had donated to the state GOP, and, according to Thrasher and another former state official who held meetings on the issue on Bush’s behalf, made his views known in the state capital.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that Trump was interested,” said Thrasher, who is backing Bush’s presidential campaign. “That was the subject of the meetings.”
Moreover, officials said, Trump has remained interested in expanding his casino business into Florida — hiring a Tallahassee lobbyist and meeting with lawmakers in recent years.
...