Senator Jim McClendon (R-Shelby) confirms to News 5’s Emily DeVoe that the bill that cleared the House of Representatives will not pass through the Senate, effectively killing the legislation for this special session.
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The Republican governor, seeking to end the Deep South state’s historic opposition to gambling as a revenue source, proposed a lottery as a way to provide money to the state’s perpetually cash-strapped Medicaid program.
The move showed that lawmakers, especially in the Senate, are at an impasse when it comes to the lottery bill.
McClendon did say the hope for a state lottery could be revisited in a future session.
McClendon’s statement came shortly after lawmakers in the House adjourned until September 6., a move that eliminated any chance of a lottery amendment being added to the November general election ballot.
The House passed the lottery bill shortly before midnight last night, sending it back to the Senate with changes.
Sens. Quinton Ross, D-Montgomery and Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, said the definition was too narrow. Among issues with the bill, Democrats are pushing for protection for existing gaming centers.
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Bentley said again today he is not talking to the Poarch Creeks about a compact. Many Democrats withdrew support after being rebuffed on an attempt to take the bill to conference committee.
