Alabama lawmakers to weigh bingo bill

Bob Johnson

Monday, May 10, 2004 | 9:06 a.m.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The Alabama House is expected to spend much of the final day of the 2004 session discussing three emotional subjects -- gay marriages, the Ten Commandments and gambling.

With most of the work on the state's two operating budgets complete, lawmakers could spend much of May 17 tied up with bills to prohibit gay marriages, to permit the posting of the Ten Commandments in public buildings and to legalize electronic bingo games at the state's greyhound racetracks.

The Legislature finished its next-to-last meeting day of the 2004 session Thursday night, completing much of the work on the state's two budgets. House Speaker Seth Hammett said it's possible the controversial bill to legalize the electronic bingo games -- with proceeds going to buy books for school children and to fund Medicaid nursing home beds -- could be considered by the House on the last day.

The bill passed the Senate earlier in the session and has generated opposition from Republicans and conservative Democrats, who say it would lead to an expansion of gambling in the state. Hammett said he does not want to put it on the House work agenda unless he is convinced supporters have the votes to pass the bill.

"I don't think the proponents have the required number of votes," Hammett said. The bill, known as "Bingo for Books and Beds," is a constitutional amendment and requires 63 votes in the 105-member House to pass.

Opponents say the bill will make dog track owners rich and will open the door to casino gambling.

"This is not about books and not about beds. It's about expanding the profits of gambling at the tracks," said John Giles, president of the Christian Coalition in Alabama.

But proponents say the bill, which would have to be approved by voters, offers no types of gambling not already available at Indian gaming centers and will provide badly needed revenue for education and Medicaid.

"People in Alabama already gamble, but the state is not getting any money out of it. This is a golden opportunity to put more money into the state education budget for the boys and girls," Rep. Alvin Holmes, D-Montgomery, said.

Two other emotional social issues are addressed in proposed constitutional amendments to ban gay marriages and to allow for the posting of the Ten Commandments in schools and other public buildings.

Rep. DuWayne Bridges, R-Valley, supports the bills to ban gay marriages and to post the Ten Commandments, but opposes the bingo amendment. He is afraid the bingo bill will be placed on the work agenda for the last day ahead of the two measures he supports. He said this would be an effort to force conservative lawmakers to let the bingo bill pass to get to the two measures they support.

But Bridges said he doesn't believe that tactic will work.

"We are prepared to filibuster as long as we can even if it means killing the other bills. I don't think two rights makes a wrong," Bridges said.