Last week, State Sen. Del Marsh (R-Anniston), who will soon be leaving the Alabama Senate president pro tempore post, revealed his comprehensive gaming proposal would be forthcoming, possibly this week.
During an appearance on Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5, State House Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) hinted the lower chamber could be taking a look at a gaming proposal as well in the near term given the opposing sides seem to be moving closer to some kind of an agreement.
The Dekalb County Republican lawmaker told “The Jeff Poor Show” that if a proposal could be presented that did not necessarily make everyone happy but satisfied, then there could be movement on the public to vote on a constitutional amendment that would deal with the issue.
“[I] think in the past — anything that was killed, it was because everybody wasn’t at the table at the point they’d like to be,” he said. “And I think this thing has been going on for a while. I know I’ve heard Senator [Del] Marsh talk about bringing a comprehensive plan. Everybody has the opportunity to be at the table, and I think until we do that, everybody that is not at the table is certainly going to fight against that. But we are closer. I do think that the different interests — you know, certainly everybody can’t get what they want. But at the end of the day, when we all are able to be satisfied with the outcome, then we’ll see it move.”
Ledbetter indicated that if the constitutional amendment got to the public for a vote, he was optimistic it would succeed.
“[W]e’ve just done some caucus polling,” Ledbetter added. “It pretty much shows that. Of course, in my district — you’re familiar with where we’re at — my district line borders Georgia. Anywhere in my district, in just about 30 minutes, you can have a lottery ticket in your hand. People here are accustomed to it. I know everybody is not for it, and I understand that. But I think they’re ready to vote on it and put it to rest. And I also understand that, too. But polling shows it is something people want to move forward with, and I think now that Mississippi has become part of that — a state that is doing the gaming, it will put more pressure on Alabama to move forward. And you know, there are pros and cons on both sides. We’ve got to look at all of that and make sure we get it right and give people the right thing to vote on because, at the end of the day, it will be the people’s choice whether they want it or not.”
He stated, “I’m like you — I think if they got a good deal out there — a constitutional amendment, I think they’ll support it.”
@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly, and host of Mobile’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on FM Talk 106.5.
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