Lawmakers are returning to Montgomery on Monday to begin a special session focused on the possible creation of a state lottery.
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Gov. Robert Bentley told The Associated Press that he is “reasonably optimistic” about getting a lottery bill approved. Another would also allow electronic lottery machines at state dog tracks. During this time, Pathway will raise $3 million in private capital to support the fund, Pathway officials said. However, it would likely face more opposition among Republican lawmakers opposed to legalizing gambling machines.
Some legislative leaders say while opposition to a lottery has dissipated since 1999, the lottery bills face hard odds in a Legislature split over whether to legalize gambling at all and whether to allow machine games if they do.
“If you’ve got a handful of folks that are hell-bent on killing it, that’s problematic”, Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh said of the timeframe.
McCutcheon, R-Capshaw, now serves as chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee.
Lawmakers are expected to introduce legislation to designate the use of $850 million BP is scheduled to pay the state over the next 17 years or so as compensation for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
“We’ve continued to do one-time funding to shore it up”, Governor Bentley said.
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The governor is calling for the lottery to plug the funding gap for Alabama’s Medicaid Agency, facing an $85 million shortage right now. “I would like to know how many free medical clinics (lottery opponents) are going to set up to take care of the children that need Medicaid and the elderly who need nursing homes”.
