MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, filed an education lottery bill Tuesday with 70 co-sponsors that if passed would go to the ballot as a constitutional amendment for people to vote on.
It would approve a paper-based lottery generating about $167 million each year according to Clouse. 50 percent of the proceeds would go toward the First Class Pre-K program and the other half for scholarships. Video lottery terminals would not be allowed.
"It's just time that we put this on the ballot again," Clouse said.
The bill also said it would not prohibit local laws prior to Jan. 1, 2005 that allowed charity bingo and pari-mutuel wagering on horse or dog racing.
Gov. Kay Ivey created a Study Group on Gambling Policy earlier this year to gather the facts before lawmakers passed a lottery. The group dissolves in December of 2020.
However, Clouse said he wants the lottery on the ballot for November.
"There's going to be a high turnout in November and that's when you want to do something like this," said Clouse. "When you have the most voters going to the polls and we can get a clear indication if they do want to go with it or do not want to go with it."
Clouse said he wants the governor's support. If the people approved a lottery in November, the governor would call a special session to set up a lottery corporation to run the operations.
Maybe Alabama will have other draw style game other than the Powerball, & Mega Millions. Something different would be nice.
Forward thinking, and with their constituents crossing state lines, the timing might be right to put it on the ballot to those who it matters most---the voters!
Todd et al...you guys have been very busy today with all these lottery stories.
BTW only played one draw of PB/MM in AC NJ. I forgot you have to pick annual payments or cash option time of play and I didn't like it somehow. That's a good project for your office--getting rid of that. We did in KY sometime ago! ROFL.
Kudos to the GOP in Alabama. "Video lottery terminals would not be allowed." A wise decision. The law makers must have seen how addictive those are. Oregon is an example.
Good Luck and success wishes to the voters and lottery players in Alabama!
Its always something with alabama. They say it's because alabama is so religious naw it's because they can't figure out how to an who will get to steal d money it's about d money always has been always will be
I'm not getting my hopes up on this issue. I'm just going to wait & see if it appears on Nov. ballot in AL. Thank for the update Todd.