Bentley signals he's open to expanding gambling, Democrats push lottery

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Thursday morning Governor Robert Bentley (R-AL) signaled he has changed his mind on a way for the state to capture gambling money, the day after the House Democratic Caucus renewed its call for a state lottery and other measures to increase government revenues.

House Minority Leader Craig Ford (D-Gadsden) introduced two bills that would allow Alabamians to vote on a lottery. One bill would have the proceeds from a lottery go toward college scholarships, and the other would send funds to the state’s Medicaid program.

“Before we even consider raising taxes we need to let the people vote on a lottery,” Ford said. “For far too long, Alabamians have been sending our hard-earned dollars to neighboring states.”

In 1999, the last time Alabamians voted on a lottery, it was soundly defeated by 8 points. Democrats have been calling for another referendum ever since, saying public opinion has changed.

The Democratic representatives also endorsed the idea of allowing the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, who already run casinos, to have table games such as poker and blackjack in their casinos in return for the state getting a cut of the gambling revenue.

Gov. Bentley stated unequivocally in February that he wouldn’t consider a gambling compact with the Poarch Band of the Creek Indians to shore up the budget shortfall, but indicated he may now be open to it during an interview with radio host Matt Murphy Thursday morning.

Murphy asked the Governor why he “seemed to shut the door so firmly on any potential compact with the Poarch Creek Indians.”

“I have not done that,” Governor Bentley replied. “And, in fact, I think that’s a way of controlling gambling in the state, is a compact with the Indians.”

The Governor then noted any such compact would need to be approved by a referendum vote that couldn’t be held until at least 90 days after the end of the legislative session.

“So we will get no money from that, probably until 2017, so that isn’t going to help us in [next year’s] budget,” Bentley remarked.

Rep. Ford chastised Republicans in his press conference Wednesday for focusing on “less important” matters instead of the general fund budget.

The House and Senate GOP’s agendas have focused on education, economic incentives, and prison reforms thus far this session, but work on the state’s two budgets has been ongoing for months, and began in earnest with the full legislature this week.

Other items on the Democratic agenda are repealing the sales tax on groceries, which has been sponsored by Rep. John Knight (D-Montgomery) for each of the last ten years; closing $60 million of corporate tax “loopholes,” sponsored by Rep. Rod Scott (D-Fairfield); and Rep. Dario Melton (D-Selma) who is proposing the state set a minimum wage of $9.80.

Two Democratic legislators are carrying some of the tax increases proposed by Governor, and Patricia Todd is sponsoring a bill that would increase cigarette taxes, though not by as much as the Governor proposed.