Alabama gambling opponents shout down Ford outside Statehouse

Bill Poovey

Tuesday, April 4, 2000 | 12:18 p.m.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Video poker opponents chanted "the people have voted and we say no" outside the Statehouse on Tuesday, shouting down a lawmaker who wants voters in Macon and Greene counties to decide if their dog tracks should get the games.

The chanting started after more than 100 sign-waving gambling opponents surrounded a sponsor of the Macon County video poker bill, Rep. Johnny Ford, D-Tuskegee, as he spoke to reporters.

"This is not in any way a confrontational rally," Ford insisted before his remarks were interrupted.

Ford surprised gambling opponents by calling a news conference on the Statehouse steps immediately ahead of their rally.

After the noisy episode outside the Statehouse, there was no sign that lawmakers returning from their spring break would take any action on video poker legislation in either the Senate or House this week.

Operators of the tracks are trying to get the games approved to reverse declining attendance.

Ford accused opposition groups of failing to obey the state's campaign finance disclosure law. Ford said he plans to introduce legislation that would increase from a misdemeanor to a felony the penalty for failing to report political spending.

Leaders of the opposition groups have denied Ford's claim that they are getting money from Mississippi casino interests.

A video poker opponent, Rep. Frank McDaniel, D-Albertville, said at the rally that a proposed constitutional amendment that would require a statewide vote on any expansion of gambling would be considered Wednesday by a House committee.

"Gambling destroys lives and destroys communities," the Rev. Dan Ireland, director of the anti-gambling Alabama Citizen Action Program, said at the rally. Ireland said Alabama voters sent a clear anti-gambling message when they soundly defeated Gov. Don Siegelman's proposed lottery Oct. 12.

James Moody, a Bay Minette retiree, said he drove to the Statehouse rally to tell lawmakers that gambling causes suffering.

"Somebody has got to suffer for it to do any form of any good," Moody said.