Gambling Legislation Dies in Senate, Residents React
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A bill that would legalize gambling and a lottery is essentially dead at the state house. The bill did not get unanimous approval from the Senate today, which was needed in order for the bill to move forward.
There isn’t much time left in the regular session and lawmakers appear to have moved on from pushing a gaming bill that some say would help the state’s budget shortfall.
“Politics as usual.”
That was the general reaction we got from people…after telling them that a gambling and lottery bill was killed Thursday afternoon. We went to gas stations to get reaction, a place that typically sells lottery tickets in other states.
“I think the lawmakers should let the people vote,” said Montgomery resident Frederick James.
In April, Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh introduced a bill that would allow for the expansion of gaming. He cites the results of a study, that show that implementing a lottery would create 400 million dollars in new revenue for the General Fund, 11 thousand new jobs. and would create up to a 1.2 billion dollar impact.
“The state needs the money and if the money is used correctly, I’m all for a lottery,” says resident John Dijt. “I sure am.”
But now, the bill is dead. And people we spoke with say they’re not happy with lawmakers.
“I think they’re not worried about the education that it would provide for our kids,” says Preston Collins.
Tuskegee resident Donna Smith says she felt the economic fallout from the closing of Victoryland and says the expansion of gaming would have benefitted her city.
“We need that lottery. I think we need it here. Macon County, Greyhound racing. I mean, it brought a lot of jobs, a lot of things here.”
New Jersey native Darryl Smith says Alabama is missing out on money.
“In New Jersey, the lottery up there pays for free education for the kids, senior citizen programs, highways, roads.”
There are just four more meeting days in the regular session. But there could be a special session after this and lawmakers could debate it once again.
