Alabama lawmakers are facing a tight deadline as they have only six days left in the legislative session to determine whether or not to present the issue of gambling to the voters.
Republicans and Democrats from both chambers are currently engaged in closed-door discussions to decide the future of gambling in the state. Sen. Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) is actively involved in these deliberations as one of the committee leaders.
According to Senator Gudger, he is optimistic about a bill that will be voted on before the end of the session. He mentioned that there is one particular topic related to gambling that is still being actively discussed.
“Everyone is curious about where the money is being allocated,” remarked Senator Gudger. “Is it being directed towards an education lottery? Or perhaps mental health? There are numerous possibilities for its usage. Personally, I am a strong advocate for mental health and believe a significant portion should be allocated to the general fund.”
Ulysses White dedicated 25 years of his life to working at VictoryLand Casino in Macon County. In his effort to advocate for this cause, he made the journey to Montgomery to engage with legislators and emphasize the significance of allowing voters to decide on this matter.
“People from Macon County deserve fair representation and equal treatment,” White emphasized. “Passing this gambling bill would not only benefit the entire Black Belt area but also uplift its communities.”
According to political analyst Steve Flowers, Alabamians have grown weary of their funds being directed towards other states and are now eager to cast their votes on the topic of gambling.
“I couldn’t care less about what they do during this entire session. They can pass the most impressive budgets, they can push for all the diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, they can even talk negatively about the libraries,” Flowers expressed. “But none of these actions hold any significance for the people of Alabama.”
The Eagle Forum of Alabama is urging individuals who are against gambling in the state to reach out to their legislators and urge them to vote against the bill.
According to Sen. Gudger, the conference committee’s primary focus is determining the allocation of funds for scholarships in the fields of education and mental health. The discussions on this matter are scheduled to resume on Thursday.
