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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

Details emerge about Alabama Gov.'s lottery visionNews Story
Governor Robert Bentley said money from a possible Alabama lottery would not fund education, but he's still optimistic voters will approve it. The Governor provided some details about his plans for this month's special session at a visit to local media outlet WBRC. He's hoping legislators will green light a November ballot initiative, giving Alabama voters another chance to approve a statewide lottery. A similar measure was voted down in 1999. Bentley admitted he was among those who voted aga
Aug 3, 2016, 9:40 am - Lottery News

Alabama governor calls special session for state lotteryNews Story
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley believes a statewide lottery is the permanent solution to fixing Alabama's funding woes, and Wednesday, he called for a special session to discuss the proposal. In a video released on the Office of the Governor website Wednesday morning, Bentley said the goal is to get the proposal passed by the Legislature and hold a statewide vote on amending the state's constitution to allow for a lottery. The time has come for us to find a permanent solution. This solution
Jul 27, 2016, 8:02 pm - Lottery News

Alabama may try lottery vote in special sessionNews Story
According to Alabama Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, Alabama lawmakers are being polled in regard to their support for legislation establishing a lottery ahead of a presumed special session. Gov. Robert Bentley said last week he's considering a special session to tackle budget issues, such as the lingering $85 million gap in the state's Medicaid program. Lawmakers funded up to $700 million for Medicaid, which requires at least $785 million to operate. A special session would be called
Jul 25, 2016, 12:08 pm - Lottery News

Alabama lawmaker pushing for lottery vote on Nov. ballotNews Story
A lottery vote in Alabama in November? One lawmaker says he wants that to be a reality. Several lottery bills didn't make it to a vote this past legislative session. Governor Robert Bentley says a special session is possible this fall, to deal with funding issues with Medicaid. But one senator, Jim McClendon of Montgomery, says he wants to use that session to pass a lottery bill. McClendon says he hasn't released any copies of the bill, but says if the session is called in time, he c
Jul 21, 2016, 8:39 am - Lottery News

Alabama lottery won't happen in 2016News Story
Alabama state lawmakers return to Montgomery on Tuesday for the final two days of the 2016 legislative session, but for supporters of a state lottery, the session has already ended. Though Gov. Robert Bentley in March said he thought Alabama voters would overwhelmingly approve a state lottery if given the chance, a variety of lottery and gambling legislation failed to gain traction during the 2016 session. A bill to allow Alabama to join multi-state lottery games like Powerball failed to m
May 3, 2016, 9:12 am - Lottery News

Alabama Legislature seems unlikely to approve lotteryNews Story
Like buying a Powerball ticket, establishing an Alabama lottery seems more likely to end in grief than gain. Efforts to create a statewide lottery appear to be dead in the current session, despite a Senate committee's approval Thursday of an amendment that would put the question before voters. Procedural rules in the Legislature's final days are likely to make its passage much more difficult, and House version of the bill appears stalled. But the Senate's sponsor and other legislators say
Apr 23, 2016, 8:16 am - Lottery News