Lawmaker: Alabama lottery bill 'dead' for session

May 23, 2019, 11:48 am (8 comments)

Alabama

An Alabama lottery bill is defunct for the legislative session, a key lawmaker said Wednesday.

"It's dead for this session. It won't be coming back this session," said Republican Rep. Steve Clouse, who was shepherding the bill in the House of Representatives.

The bill hit a politically fatal mix of conservative opposition to gambling and liberals' feuds over electronic gambling and how to use lottery revenue. Clouse said they do not have the 63 bipartisan votes needed to pass the measure in the 105-member House of Representatives.

The proposed constitutional amendment would have authorized a state lottery played with paper tickets but not with video lottery terminals. The measure cleared the Senate without a vote to spare, but stalled in the House on Tuesday night. Supporters were one vote short of the number required to bring the bill up for debate Tuesday night.

Couse said it became apparent Wednesday that they could not break through the stalemate.

House Democrats told reporters Wednesday that they wanted more accountability as to how the funds from the lottery would be spent, arguing for specific earmarks on spending and to steer more money to education.

The lottery legislation faced opposition from some Republicans opposed to legalizing gambling. It also faced opposition from some lawmakers who wanted to allow electronic gambling machines at state dog tracks so the tracks can compete with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

Rep. Merika Coleman, a Democrat from Pleasant Grove, said she feared the general funds would be used to fund prison structures instead of other needs, such as Medicaid expansion.

"At the end of the day, our goal is to deliver services and support to our constituents," Coleman said

House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels agreed that the bill was likely dead for the session.

"I don't personally expect the lottery to be brought up for a vote for the remainder of the session" Daniels said.

Clouse said continued disputes over allowing electronic gambling machines at the two tracks constituted the "final straw."

Alabama is one of five states — along with Utah, Alaska, Hawaii, and Nevada — without a state lottery.

Alabama voters last went to the polls on the idea of a lottery in 1999, when they rejected a lottery proposed by then-Gov. Don Siegelman.

Then-Gov. Robert Bentley in 2016 called for a state lottery in response to a state budget crisis, but the measure failed under similar disagreements.

Clouse said the stalemate is frustrating for state voters who want to see a lottery in Alabama.

"I know they are disappointed. I am disappointed too," Clouse said.

He said legislators frequently are asked by constituents "why they can't go buy a Powerball ticket in Alabama and have to go Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and soon to be Mississippi."

AP, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

Big Joey

People in Alabama will go west to play in Mississippi. No problem!

music*'s avatarmusic*

Alabama voters will vote for or against the State Representatives in 2020.  The lottery may be off the radar because politics is a short lived thing. 

JADELottery's avatarJADELottery

No, that's my money... Argue ...No, that's my money.

Yep, just take your lottery dollars to another state.

This was their chance to keep those dollars in Alabama.

Their next look when the money leaves... Shocked

noise-gate

..well that's just great. In the meantime, could you politicians fix the potholes and uneven road surfaces, so we have safe driving conditions as we head to Mississippi & Arkansas to purchase our lottery tickets & scratchers. Thanks in advance. 

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Crazy

cottoneyedjoe's avatarcottoneyedjoe

"Clouse said continued disputes over allowing electronic gambling machines at the two tracks constituted the "final straw."

If that's true, it's a petty and pointless hill to die on. I've been following Alabama public sentiment about the lottery on social media and blogs, and from what I've been reading, people mainly want to buy scratch-offs and Powerball without  having to drive over the state line and couldn't care less about video lotto at the dog tracks. But from what I've read the biggest issue that killed the lottery bill was allocating most of the lottery profits to the general fund rather than education, not the e-gambling.

It's too bad they cut their nose off the spite their face, because they could use the extra revenue to pay for all the court battles coming their way when the abortion ban goes into effect.

cbr$'s avatarcbr$

In my opinion the lawmakers are just playing politics. The Lottery bill won't pass until the lawmakers get their

priories straight .  Alabama's  politicians don't want to be accountable or responsible. They won't specify where the
the money is really going !!!  Just saying 75% to the general Fund & 25% to a . Education Trust Fund. Is not enough. 
They been working on this bill for about 10 years now. It still has no clear points or real structure. This budget sound
great because for a fiscal year or two that fund will be out from under the general fund for about a year then put back
into the General Funds. The real debate here is this. If Alabama was serious the lottery bill could be the icing on the
cake. Let's bake the cake first if AL. politicians lawmakers stop {FIT} & grocery taxes it will add  $719 million a year 
to the general Fund. The Lottery then could be a boost not a minus. Then lawmakers are representing everyone. Right
now they act as if they real don't know what everyday AL. people need or want & don't care. They appear to be self
serving. It time for these lawmakers to earn their pay checks. Step up & do the right thing by the people. Stop {FIT}No No
Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by Big Joey on May 23, 2019

People in Alabama will go west to play in Mississippi. No problem!

Hey Big Joey, was going to comment they could go to Tennessee, Georgia or Florida, but read between the lines about Mississippi and got your joke loud and clear.

 

Way off subject, but watched the PA live drawings waiting for Jeopardy! to come on.  Anyway all FIVE drawings were with white balls, no RNG.  WTG Pennsylvania.  No jackpots for us in Atlantic City!  (Did buy NJ 6, PB & MM though).  The slots were tight.

End of comments
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