In a recent radio interview on the Jeff Poor Show, Alabama state Senator David Sessions of Mobile County said if gambling becomes an issue in 2024, the House of Representatives would have to pass a constitutional amendment to eliminate the state’s 1901 constitutional ban on gambling.
Sessions said he would prefer that a statewide referendum on the amendment take place in a presidential election year.
Sessions told Poor, “I think the House−basically, it is kind of their turn. I’m of the opinion if we’re going to do a constitutional amendment, it needs to be on a presidential ballot. That’s when you have more people voting historically, so the majority would rule, whether it be against it or for it.”
Sessions also noted to Poor that he would not support the constitutional amendment to allow gambling.
He said, “I personally oppose it. But, you know, there again, if it is a constitutional amendment that protects the state and is a fair deal to the state, not fair to the gambling interests−I don’t want to see a one-sided constitutional amendment. I want to see it fair for the state. I could support that in the Senate, as long as it is fair to the state and the people have the ultimate decision. There again, when I go to the poll, I’m going to go in there and punch ‘no’ no matter what. I feel gambling is the biggest tax on poor people there is.”
Sessions added there was a “good possibility” the Alabama legislature could pass a constitutional amendment lifting the gambling ban in time for the 2024 presidential election.
