SPRINGVILLE, Ala. — Sen. Jim McClendon (R-Springville) announced on Tuesday that he plans to introduce a second lottery bill in the legislature to compete against Governor Bentley’s plan.
McClendon’s proposal differs from Bentley’s in that it would allow for the creation of electronic lottery terminals at dog tracks in Birmingham, Mobile, Macon County and Greene County. The bill also authorizes the governor to negotiate compacts with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
The senator estimates that his plan will bring in would bring in $427 million annually, which is more than the $225 estimated for the governor’s plan.
He said, however, that he would be happy if either plan passed.
“I’d support either plan or a hybrid,” he said. “I hope [Governor Bentley’s bill] makes it through. That will be fine with me. I want to get this lottery issue before the people. I want to do something about the sick kids getting medical care.”
Last week, Bentley on Friday released his proposed Constitutional Amendment (CA) that would institute a state-sponsored lottery, with the revenue flowing into the General Fund, rather than the Education Budget, to fund Medicaid, prisons and other agencies.
Constitutional Amendments require a vote of the people, so for it to appear on the General Election ballot in November, the legislature would have to pass a bill authorizing the CA vote by August 24th.
While speaking to doctors at Monroe County Hospital earlier this year, Gov. Bentley said he believes 70 percent of Alabamians would support a lottery proposal that is directly tied to funding Medicaid, a major source of revenue for rural hospitals. Recent polling, however, shows Alabama Republicans split on the lottery, while remaining overwhelmingly opposed to a further expansion of casino gambling.
Alabama is one of only six states that does not have a lottery, but a gambling expansion of any kind could face fierce opposition from the state’s large swath of evangelical voters.
In 1999, Alabamians voted down Gov. Don Siegelman’s proposed education lottery 54% to 46%. Since then, numerous statewide candidates — most of them Democrats — have run on a platform of letting the people vote again.
The special session, which begins next Monday, will have the opportunity to consider both options.
RELATED:
1. Bentley proposes lottery to fund Medicaid, prisons, other General Fund agencies
3. Bentley’s lottery panic is a sham. Here’s how Alabama can pay its bills without it.
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