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Constitutional Amendment

Lottery Is Dead For November 8 Ballot and Foreseeable Future

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama Senate debated the lottery for four days of this Special Session. On Tuesday, August 23, it took the Alabama House of Representatives just a few minutes to effectively kill the lottery, without ever even discussing it in a committee. Freshly energized lottery opponents used the tight timeline … Continued
August 24, 2016

Bentley Lottery Passes the Senate

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Friday, August 19, 2016, after three days spent debating a much more ambitious lottery proposal, the Senate finally agreed to pass a lottery bill similar to the one first asked for by Governor Robert Bentley (R). Senate Bill 3 passed 21 to 12. A bipartisan group of Senators including … Continued
August 20, 2016

Indians, Attorney General Take Aim At “McLottery”

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—A lottery bill sponsored by Sen. Jim McClendon (R-Springville) is drawing fire from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PCI) and in a surprise press release from Attorney General Luther Strange. Lobbyists for PCI and Tribal Vice Chair Robbie McGee are confidently predicting the demise of any lottery bill … Continued
August 17, 2016

Sanford to Introduce His Version of Lottery

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama legislature is back in Montgomery for a special session to consider passing a constitutional amendment to allow a lottery. State Senator Paul Sanford (R-Huntsville) wrote in a statement on social media, “I will introduce a Multi-State Lottery Bill (no scratch-offs & very limited personnel needed.” Sanford estimated … Continued
August 16, 2016

“McLottery” Details Expected Today

By Bill Britt and Susan Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Legislation from Sen. Jim McClendon proposing a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment to approve or reject a statewide lottery is expected later today. A draft of the legislation obtained by the Alabama Political Reporter over the weekend provides some insight as to what … Continued
August 15, 2016

Special Session August 15

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—“Not just about a lottery,” Gov. Bentley began, as he announced the August 15, 2016 Special Legislative Session, “This is about our people.” In a short video, Bentley said he wanted the legislature to work together to solve the decades-old budget problems, to protect the “Most vulnerable and helpless” … Continued
July 29, 2016

Update: Bentley May Doom Medicaid, Lottery Siegelman-Style

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter   Update: In what is being described as a bizarre video press release, Gov. Robert Bentley spoke for over five minutes about a Special Session without ever once mentioning the date of the call. Bentley says he will be traveling the State to gather support for a Lottery to … Continued
July 27, 2016

Orr Says He Wants to Expose Donors

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Twin bills in the Alabama House and Senate would call for a Constitutional Amendment to “regulate the disclosure, raising, and spending of moneys to influence elections and governmental actions.” The constitutional amendment is the brainchild of Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), who says the primary purpose of the bill is … Continued
April 5, 2016

Bill Prevents Transfers of State Park Funds to Other Agencies

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter   On Tuesday, March 22, the Alabama Senate passed SB260, which is a constitutional amendment to protect the Alabama State Parks funding from future budget battles.  Over the last several years, millions of dollars of parks funding has been transferred to prop up Alabama’s struggling Corrections System and state … Continued
March 24, 2016

Lottery: The Easiest Vote is to “Let the People Vote”

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—A packed room on the third floor of the State House was the scene for a public hearing, on a constitutional amendment that would change State law prohibiting a lottery. The Alabama 1901 Constitution specifically forbids a State lottery. Sen. Jim McClendon’s bill is written to allow the people … Continued
February 11, 2016