Gov. Robert Bentley believes a statewide lottery is the “permanent solution” to fixing Alabama’s funding woes, and on Wednesday, he called for a special session to discuss the proposal.
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He says he will travel the state first, to promote the legislation that would set up a vote by Alabama residents to amend the Alabama Constitution, which now bans lotteries.
Bentley explained a lottery would raise roughly $225 million a year, revenue which could be applied to basic services, such as ones that aid children, the elderly, the mentally ill and law enforcement.
“It’s time we stop supporting other state’s budgets and keep our money at home to solve our own problems”, Bentley said.
The announcement doesn’t include a date for the special session.
In order for a lottery proposal to make it on the general election ballot November 8, the Legislature would need to approve it no later than August 24.
He said he will tour the state to campaign for the lottery.
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Also included in the plan is the establishment of a statewide lottery commission to oversee lottery operations. Voters turned down a proposed lottery to support education programs in 1999 backed by then-Governor Don Siegelman. Siegelman’s lottery would have funded college scholarships, technology for schools and pre-kindergarten.
