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Alabama lottery bill faces battle in HouseNews Story
Senators thought the lottery proposal they approved Friday directed 10 percent of the revenue toward Alabama's education budget, but it doesn't. An amendment was added earlier Friday to Senate Bill 3 to give the education budget a slice of the lottery money. But a subsequent amendment to send the first $100 million in revenue to the state Medicaid agency, deleted the education allocation. Whether that amendment will get back into the bill is now unknown. I'm going to talk to the House
Aug 21, 2016, 8:03 am - Lottery News

UPDATED: Alabama Senate approves lottery billNews Story
Historic first step toward letting the people decide if they want a lottery Update: How each senator voted The Alabama Senate on Friday passed a lottery bill proposed by Gov. Robert Bentley, capping off the first week of a special session called by the governor. The bill, which was amended substantially before the vote, will now go on to the House of Representatives. Passed by a voting margin of 21-12, the bill sends a proposed constitutional amendment establishing a state lottery befor
Aug 20, 2016, 1:15 am - Lottery News

Alabama Senate kills one lottery bill; the other to be debated FridayNews Story
The Alabama Senate Thursday voted against a procedure that would have allowed a vote on a proposed lottery bill sponsored by State Sen. Jim McClendon. Procedurally they killed the bill, at least for this session, McClendon said. Senators voted 20 to 11 to reject a cloture motion to stop the debate on the lottery. McClendon said that if the motion was approved it would have meant a vote could be taken on the lottery and would likely have had the votes. McClendon said that on Friday he w
Aug 18, 2016, 8:47 pm - Lottery News

Alabama lottery vote on shaky ground in SenateNews Story
The Alabama Senate started debate Wednesday on whether to allow residents to vote on a constitutional amendment to establish a lottery, but adjourned for the day without a vote on the proposal. The outlook for both plans from Gov. Robert Bentley and State Sen. Jim McClendon, R-Springville, remains bleak. We're still putting the pieces together, McClendon said after Wednesday's sessions adjourned. I'm not ready to bury it yet. He gave his bill, which differs from Bentley's in that it would
Aug 18, 2016, 9:22 am - Lottery News

Alabama lottery debate: Senators try to reach compromise on 2 proposalsNews Story
Alabama senators on Wednesday remained divided on lottery proposals as they tried to strike compromise on gambling that has so far been elusive. Senators began debate on dueling lottery proposals. One bill is a proposal backed by Gov. Robert Bentley to establish a state lottery. The other would authorize a lottery and also allow electronic lottery terminals which can be similar to slot machines or video poker at four state dog tracks. I think there is a chance that we will get something t
Aug 17, 2016, 10:12 pm - Lottery News

Committee hears pros and cons of Alabama lotteryNews Story
Update: Committee approves both bills, sends to full Senate Bills to call for a constitutional amendment to establish a state lottery were debated this morning in an Alabama Senate committee. The Senate Tourism and Marketing Committee held a public hearing on the second day of the special legislative session. The committee plans to meet again this afternoon and take votes on the bills. At the public hearing, several people spoke in opposition to a lottery and other forms of gambling,
Aug 16, 2016, 5:06 pm - Lottery News

Alabama lawmakers weigh in on lotteryNews Story
Several Montgomery-area lawmakers say they could support letting Alabamians decide whether the state has a lottery, and whether Powerball and Mega Millions tickets are sold locally. But they say they're unlikely to support any effort to allow electronic games at several sites around the state. The Legislature returns to the Statehouse on Monday to debate lottery legislation and likely other possible revenue fixes for the state. More money for the state Medicaid Agency in 2017 is a priority
Aug 14, 2016, 9:03 am - Lottery News

Alabama lottery plan could face uphill battleNews Story
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, who said a year ago that lotteries were as old-fashioned as leisure suits, now says they are the best remaining option to boost funding for important state programs, especially Medicaid. State lawmakers return to Montgomery on Monday for a special session to consider the governor's proposal for a lottery to raise money for the state budget. Previously, Bentley has said he did not oppose a lottery proposal going on the ballot for voters, but was not a proponent
Aug 13, 2016, 9:17 am - Lottery News

Alabama senator introduces competing lottery proposalNews Story
Alabama Sen. Jim McClendon, R-Springville, laid out a competing proposal Tuesday to Gov. Robert Bentley's plan to institute a statewide lottery as a means to addressing Alabama's budget shortfall. McClendon is still working on the details of the bill so he did not have a copy available. His plan expands on Bentley's by allowing for electronic lottery terminals devices similar to slot machines to be installed in Birmingham, Mobile, and Greene and Macon Counties. The terminals would raise $127
Aug 9, 2016, 4:14 pm - Lottery News

Alabama Gov. releases legislation for lotteryNews Story
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has released the legislation for his proposed lottery to support the state budget. The three-page bill, a proposed constitutional amendment, says lottery proceeds would go to the state General Fund. A copy of the bill is linked in the Related Links section below. It also calls for the establishment of a lottery commission to run the lottery. The commission would have seven members. They would be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. The
Aug 8, 2016, 8:15 am - Lottery News