Alabama Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh announced that during the upcoming special session of the legislature, he will not attempt to advance a bill for a statewide vote on a constitutional amendment to allow a lottery and casinos at the state’s four greyhound racetracks. Marsh promoted the bill during the general assembly and first special session. His office had commissioned a report from Auburn University, which indicated the proposal would generate 0 million annually, including nearly 0 million from a state lottery. The report said the racinos would create 11,000 jobs.
Governor Robert Bentley has called the gambling issue a distraction to the main business of resolving the $200 million shortfall in the general fund budget for the new fiscal year beginning October 1. He has said new revenues should come through tax increases. Marsh said, “The governor said in the last special session that gambling got in the way. I’m taking that argument off the table. I’ve decided not to offer the legislation, although I think it’s a choice the people of the state want. I think people want to make the decision on gaming once and for all. That’s something that the people could make a choice on that provides future revenue without raising taxes.”
A recent poll by TargetPoint Consulting for the Alabama Jobs Foundation showed 89 percent of Alabamians favored a vote on gambling, and 80 percent supported a lottery if the proceeds went toward education. Two-thirds of the poll respondents opposed raising taxes. “This gaming piece of legislation I have will not solve this year’s budget problem. I think we all agree that if we had this in place, it will contribute and help solve future budget problems,” Marsh said.
He pointed out if gambling is not considered, only three options remain to close the budget gap: Increase taxes, cut departments covered by the General Fund or move revenue from the Education Trust Fund into the General Fund. “Those are your choices. It will be interesting to see where the appetite is when we get in.”
Meanwhile, state Senator Paul Sanford said he plans to introduce his own version of the lottery bill, which Marsh has said he will not oppose. “The lottery legislation was a piece of my gaming proposal, so I have no problem bringing that to the people for a vote. If that’s the piece the Senate decides to go with, then I’m not going to stop them,” Marsh said.
