State Sen. Gudger: ‘My constituents made it very clear to me’ they prefer a ‘simple’ lottery

The failure of State Sen. Del Marsh’s (R-Anniston) comprehensive gaming legislation last week has led to some lawmakers scrambling for a simplified back-up plan that could lay the groundwork for at least a lottery in Alabama.

Among those are State Sen. Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman), who along with Sen. Jim McClendon (R-Springville), has proposed a so-called “simple lottery” bill.

During an appearance on Mobile radio’s FM Talk 106.5, Gudger explained his efforts on the lottery issue stemmed from what he had heard from his constituents and added that he was working with Marsh and McClendon on his proposal.

“My constituents made it very clear to me when I went home, going through this lottery/gaming bill that we voted down — that they really preferred just to have a lottery vote that was very simple and they would be able to read and understand instead of the hundred pages of the enabling legislation and the constitutional amendment,” he said. “I came back. I went straight to Del to tell him this is where I stand. I don’t want to surprise you. I want to make sure you know that before we hit the floor. That is the last thing you want as a legislator — to think you have the votes and you don’t. I wanted to make sure he knew that upfront that morning. Senator McClendon came to me and said, ‘Hey, I’ve got a lottery bill with Del. Del had talked to me about getting it out of committee.’ I said, ‘That’s funny. I’ve got one, too. I didn’t know you were doing that.’ What we thought the best thing to do was I co-sponsor his bill, he co-sponsor my bill and we put both of them in. Hopefully, with the blessings of Del getting them out of committee, we will see which one is the best for the people and put that out.”

“Frankly, I think either one that gets out is fine,” Gudger added. “I think my constituents want a chance to vote on the lottery, and I want to be able to give them that.”

According to Gudger, one differentiation between his and McClendon’s current legislation is his bill does not include video lottery terminals.

“[M]ine is a simple paper lottery, which I think is the most simple form of what the people want to vote on,” he said. “My bill is a constitutional amendment and it is just for paper, which means scratch-off tickets, like at convenience store or retail outlet, lotto tickets that you would get through a vending machine or at a convenience store. And then from that, you still have multi-state play, which is the Powerball that you see in Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia and Florida. And I think it is as simple as possible for the people to have a vote — do you want lottery, yes or no? And if it comes back ‘yes,’ then we can be able to come, have the enabling legislation and place that money where the people want, which in my bill, it would give scholarships for post-secondary, two-year and four-year, and then for mental health, teachers K-12.”

@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.