Bentley: Lottery is solution to state funding woes
Gov. Robert Bentley believes a statewide lottery is the “permanent solution” to fixing Alabama’s funding woes, and on Wednesday, he called for a special session to discuss the proposal.
In a video released on the Office of the Governor website Wednesday morning, Bentley said the goal is to get the proposal passed by the Legislature and hold a statewide vote on amending the state’s constitution to allow for a lottery.
“The time has come for us to find a permanent solution. This solution will provide funding year after year without having to raise taxes and without having to put one more bandage on our state’s money problems,” Bentley said.
Bentley said the lottery is expected to bring in $225 million annually, and the “simple, clear and transparent legislation” will not include gambling of any other kind.
Bentley also said he has a plan to use the revenue to provide basic services the state “has not and cannot at this time pay for.”
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“Let’s hear from the people of this great state whether the time has come to approve a statewide lottery to help fund essential state services for our children, our elderly, those with mental illness, and those who are in most need as well as the men and women in law enforcement,” Bentley said.
Also included in the plan is the establishment of a statewide lottery commission to oversee lottery operations.
Only six states don't have a lottery: Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Mississippi and Alabama.
Bentley called Alabamians "some of the best customers" for lotteries in surrounding states Georgia, Florida and Tennessee.
"It’s time we stop supporting other state’s budgets and keep our money at home to solve our own problems," Bentley said.