The looming budget debate in the Alabama Legislature could consume most of the remaining session, and put chances of revisiting the electronic bingo issue in jeopardy.
However, one Alabama senator is hopeful the Alabama Senate can address bingo one more time before tackling the budgets.
State Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, said there is a 50/50 chance of putting another bingo bill on the Senate calendar for debate. A bingo bill sponsored by Bedford was placed on the calendar for debate two weeks ago, but failed when the Senate could not reach the 21 votes necessary to officially discuss the bill. Bedford said senators are still searching for the votes.
“So far, the Senate is divided and there is not a 21-vote consensus. My hope is we can try one more time,” Bedford said.
Time is running out, however. The Legislature is not in session this week and will resume work March 23. The Legislature has already met for 20 of its 30 legislative days. Budgets must begin moving no later than the 25th day.
Also, the Legislature has not come to a consensus on two other major issues — solving the state’s Prepaid Affordable College Tuition problem, or addressing a bill which calls for taking $1 billion from the Alabama Trust Fund over the next 10 years to spend on roads and bridges.
Several electronic bingo bills have been introduced in the House and Senate. Sen. Marc Keahey, D-Grove Hill, has introduced a bill backed by the Poarch Creek Band of Indians. Sen. Paul Sanford, R-Huntsville, introduced a bill last week that would change the definition of electronic bingo machines to slot machines. It calls for a straight up or down vote on the machines’ legalization.
The most recent bingo bill entered into the fray was introduced by Sen. Quinton Ross, D-Montgomery. The bill calls for a 30 percent tax on gross revenue from bingo operations. The bill also calls for a statewide referendum on electronic bingo, with ballot wording to read: “Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, To define electronic bingo, to create the Alabama Gaming Commission, and to authorize the operation, regulation, and taxation of electronic bingo.”
The bill also calls for bingo regulations to be determined by the Legislature only after passage of the referendum.
Doug Rainer, spokesperson for Country Crossing, said Country Crossing is still reviewing all of the bills and has not decided on a bill to support.
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