Governor Riley wants lawmakers to review a gambling bill before voting
Published: February 9, 2010
Updated: February 9, 2010
From Governor’s Press Office:
MONTGOMERY – The so-called “Sweet Home Alabama” gambling bill being considered by the Legislature legalizes slot machines in Alabama for the first time, allows for casinos to be built in every county and provides casino operators with criminal immunity, meaning they could not be prosecuted for breaking Alabama’s gambling laws.
Governor Bob Riley outlined those provisions of the proposed constitutional amendment and many others in a letter to members of legislative committees that are considering the gambling bill today.
In the six-page letter, Governor Riley highlights key sections of the bill that are objectionable.
“First, claims that this bill is necessary to ‘resolve the bingo debate’ are bogus. That debate is over. The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled – several times – that the State Constitution’s ‘bingo’ amendments narrowly authorize only the traditional game of bingo. Adhering to conservative judicial principles, our Supreme Court has rejected the kind of liberal judicial activism it would take to find some hidden meaning in the word ‘bingo’ that would legalize Las Vegas-style slot machine gambling in Alabama by judicial decree,” the Governor wrote in his letter.
Governor Riley is urging legislators to read the 42-page bill before voting on it.
“Study it, discuss it in detail with your constituents and please make sure you understand the long-term consequences of what this bill would do before you make a decision whether to support it. At the end of the day, whether you are for or against gambling, I hope you will agree with me that there is nothing in this proposed amendment that is good for Alabama,” said Governor Riley.
The Governor said he will also post the proposed constitutional amendment on his website at http://www.governor.alabama.gov.
“I hope the citizens of Alabama will read this proposal for themselves and recognize the real danger it poses to our quality of life and to our economy,” said Governor Riley.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
If I am reading part of Governor Riley’s press release correctly, he thinks the owners will have immunity when they break Alabama’s gambling laws. But, from what I’ve read if this Amendement is added to the constitution then gambling would no longer be illegal. So, my question is, what laws would the owners be breaking to get immunity for?
Riley has been the only (effective) danger to the AL citizens “quality of life” and and the conspicious, demonstrative danger to our economy.
After wasting untold thousands of AL taxpayer dollars on silly ‘raids’ (the amount may be know as it has been called up for investigation); Riley is now the sole owner of ALL of the resulting negative impacts to the AL citizens, businesses, and AL economy. Thousands of people out of work and now on the unemployment roll. Negative impacts to surrounding and supporting industries (advertising, hotels, gas stations, restaurants and food services, dealerships, transportation, construction, and utilities (read: Alabama Power !) on and on…. all to coddle his (Riley’s) personal interests via revenues through his son’s law firm while the taxpayer foots the massive bill. Let’s go AL Legislature ! LET THE PEOPLE VOTE !
Thank you, Gov. Riley, for enforcing the laws of the State of Alabama as written in the Constitution and interpreted by the Alabama Supreme Court. You are doing an excellent job and I appreciate your selfless service to the people of this great state.
I may not agree with the 25 mph speed limit in front of my house and should I choose to break that law then I expect law officers to enforce the law they observe being broken WITHOUT any court orders or warrants!!! Everyone knows this except the “attorneys” for illegal slot-machine owners.
What is next “Sweet Home Alabama”, tax and regulate prostitution, cocaine, meth, child pornography?
Be aware: the quiet and conservative majority will speak exceedingly clear next election if Montgomery doesn’t wake up and smell the skunks in the cellar!
Good ole Bubba Bob strikes again… When will the misguided, xenophobic voters of this poor state realize what they’re doing to us all by electing such obstructionist, anti-progress, backwoods bumbleheads to positions of authority?! See what happened in and to Alaska when they chose an empty-headed, self-absorbed ‘governor’ run-amok? And yet we seem bible-bound to remain at the very bottom of the heap, while Mississippi licks its chops and rakes in millions from our own Alabama citizens for their struggling education system. Danger to our quality of life and economy? Truly and patently pathetic y’all! After years and years of blocking something so innocuous as gourmet beer, what will they try to obstruct next, eh?!
Advertisement