Budget Fixes Die In Senate, Special Session Likely
Senators spent much of the day with bills that didn’t have a lot of debate.
One of the possible budget fixes that would transfer about 100 million dollars in use tax to the general fund budget was pushed further down the agenda, effectively killing the bill.
“I think the mood is there’s this thought that there can be some getting together after this session, passing the budget, and get together and look at a big total overlook of government programs. Everything from a unified budget to un-earmarking and all those things,” said Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh.
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Marsh says part of that solution could be his gambling bill.
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The bill would expand table gaming and bring a lottery to the state, if the people of Alabama approve it.Â
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“I think there’s definitely interest in the gaming bill, I get a lot of calls on it. I’ve got a lot of my colleagues that have interest in it. But I think the gaming bill is most likely to be looked at, as everything else, with a special session,” said Marsh.
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And it’s not just Marsh who thinks a special session is likely. He says he’s had conversations with Governor Robert Bentley about the subject as well.
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“The governor acknowledges the fact that it’s going to take some time to look at a more comprehensive plan. We also all acknowledge that until the pressure is felt on all these individual legislators from these people at home, and that hasn’t happened, that it’s hard to get everyone to the table to discuss all the options,” said Marsh.
