One of them is Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley’s proposal (SB3), also sponsored by McClendon, which calls for a lottery run by a seven-member commission, with members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate.
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One of the bills introduced by Sen. “That bill is over for this session”. Some lawmakers oppose all legalized gambling.
SB11 would call for an Alabama lottery to provide revenue for education; and electronic lottery machines to be added to the state’s four parimutuel betting facilities in the city of Birmingham, Greene, Macon and Mobile counties.
Lawmakers were debating the lottery proposal on the order of Gov. Robert Bentley, who called a special session just for that goal Monday. The Legislature is looking for a way to plug a hole of about $85 million in Medicaid’s budget. Such an amendment would appear on the November 8 general election ballot only if the legislature passes a bill authorizing a vote by August 24. To get on that ballot, lawmakers have to pass an amendment by Tuesday.
If gambling legislation passed the House and Senate, it would require a statewide vote to approve a constitutional amendment. Cloture basically would end debate on a bill and send it to the floor for a vote.
Senators expect to vote sometime Thursday evening.
“If we are not going to vote for this, it’s time to look at real tax reform in this state”, Sen. Critics said money spent on the lottery would be siphoned out of the economy and yield nothing for the poor Alabamians who play. The bill will have substituted provisions, which McClendon will explain at the time, he said.
After lunch Thursday, McClendon offered an amended bill that added gaming options for two more counties, Houston and Lowndes, and moved the lottery vote away from the November 8 general election ballot. McClendon’s proposal estimates that between the state lottery and video lottery terminals $427 million can be raised annually.
McClendon didn’t say what he though his chances were in getting senators to vote on the lottery proposal.
Opponents said the bill, with multiple late-hour amendments, wasn’t ready for a vote.
“We have children in this state that are sick, families that are suffering”, Sen. Bill Holtzclaw, R-Madison. “This one is a clean slate”, Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said.
Lawmakers do have another option to fill some of the Medicaid gap.
Bentley’s proposal would institute a state-sponsored lottery with the revenue flowing into the General Fund, rather than the Education Budget, to fund Medicaid, prisons and other agencies.
Rep. Steve Clouse’s House Bill 36 takes most of the state’s $1 billion BP settlement – to be paid out in annual installments over 18 years – and borrows against it to get about $640 million now.
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Asked if the $70 million was enough to meet Medicaid’s needs, Medicaid commissioner Stephanie Azar told reporters it was “a step in the right direction”.
