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 could be able to get a vote on creating a lottery during the November presidential election.
"There is a time frame, and that time frame is adequate time to prepare overseas ballots and get ballots printed here, so the timing of the special is critical," says Senator Jim McClendon.
A new report showed Tennessee made $50 million more in lottery profits for school districts this year than they did last year.
Senator McClendon says it's absurd that money is going to other states, when it could be spent here in Alabama.
Governor Bentley's office says there's no timetable yet for a special session.
People will travel to a state that sells lottery when their state doesn't. I guess they feel the trip is worth it if the prize is big enough.
Like the article states, "it's absurd that money is going to other states, when it could be spent here in Alabama."
Allow the voters to have a voice in this matter. People Power!
All lottery money matters!
We or the dog and I would travel to Ohio to play Mega Millions before Kentucky had it. You are correct, folks will travel and spend in a state that offers things their own state doesn't. Particularly lottery free states. OTH I can't see someone traveling from Alaska or Hawaii just to settle a craving for a lottery ticket, but stranger things have happened.
Sigh, my dog is an enabler too. He always wants to stop at the gulf station on our walks when the jackpot is big.
That was Bleu, my late Jack Russell/blue heeler. Hence my nickname bleudog. We also traveled to Virginia to play years ago. My current rescue has not been out of state yet!
Bleu knew words. Lottery meant a ride in the car, so did mail, or the best was Feeder's Supply. He knew somehow @ the right traffic light that there was Feeder's supply and go crazy. This dog hasn't learned too many words, don't think she cares. They both hate(d) it when I had to go work and would tell them to pick the six #'s and no more work!!
Going to be some exciting news to see what happens in November. Good Luck Alabama
Let the voters decide. My prediction it won't happen again. 'They' are too set in their ways. Like I've said before they're too stupid to put slots @ race courses here and they are all hurting...even Churchill Downs and yet it is still never up for a vote for the public.
Alabama has put a lottery to a vote before and voted it down. I wonder if they'll do the same thing again.
Alabama is bordered by 3 lottery states; FL, TN, and GA. LA is also not too far of a drive.
I thought it was voted down by the Legislature, not citizens???
Waiting for Todd to post the standings on Powerball, he's been too busy with all these other pertinent lottery stories.
Come on KY, MA or IN, have Powerball tickets in all three.
This Governor Robert Bentley, needs to cut down on his b-u-t-t-sniffing activities and pay more attention to bringing PB/MM to Alabama. The people have suffered enough.
Well, at least unlike our former governor, Mark Sanford, he hasn't gotten lost on the Appalachian Trail.
HA HA! I thought my dog was the only one who knew the word lottery! He very confidently leads me to the gas station when we walk there. A time or two I wasn't going to stop and he actually stopped on the sidewalk and kept looking at the store. He doesn't even get anything out of it because it is a small kiosk type stand that only sells gas, lottery tickets, and phone cards.
It is getting to the point that my dog is starting to associate spelling words with their meaning. If you start to spell Ice Cream --I-C-E he gets excited and runs to the garage door for a trip to the ice cream store.
I am sure that if he could talk he would tell the people of 'Bama how great it is to be able to buy lottery tickets in your own state.
Good luck Alabama!