ALABAMA LOTTERY BILL PASSES SENATE, MOVES ON TO HOUSE OF REP.
Reporting by WVUA 23 Reporter Sam Luther
The Alabama lottery bill passed the Senate yesterday, which means Alabama is one step closer to a lottery.
Now, the bill will be in the hands of the Alabama House of Representatives. If it passes there, it would go to the people for a vote. Many Tuscaloosa residents like Dwight Eddins agree that the people should ultimately decide if the bill passes or fails.
“It’s not their business,” Eddins said. “It’s not something they should control, it should be up to everybody. If the people want it, they should vote it in.”
Before it could ever go to a public vote, the bill has to pass the Alabama House of Representatives. Tuscaloosa resident Robert Peckham hopes the bill passes and a state lottery is established.
“You know I think that the opportunity for the state to make some money for our schools and our kids is definitely a reason why it should pass here in the state of Alabama,” Peckham said.
Residents like Dan Worral believe that this revenue could go a long way in the state.
“I mean typically it puts money back into the school system,” Worral said. “The states I’ve lived in previously have always had it and it didn’t seem like a big deal to have it as part of the state you’re residing in. And especially when there’s states like Georgia next door that have it anyways and people go buy the tickets there.”
Some feel that voters with strong religious convictions could keep the bill from passing.
“There are things in the Bible that indicate that you shouldn’t gamble,” Tuscaloosa resident Jonathon Mizzell said. “That’s if you’re hardcore Christian fundamentalists or even not fundamentalist, you’re going to agree that there shouldn’t be a lottery.”
Alabama Rep. Chris England of Tuscaloosa feels that it’s finally time Alabama makes a change with a statewide lottery.
“We’ve been discussing the lottery now for decades and we’re at a point now where we can use the revenue and I think we should maximize that potential.”
