RSA’s Bronner Pushes for Special Session on Alabama Gambling Legislation

Much of the 2024 legislative session in Alabama was consumed by debates over various gambling proposals, but no related legislation was successfully ed through both chambers. With House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) showing little interest in pursuing gambling legislation in the next session, it remains uncertain when there will be another significant effort to place a gambling and lottery constitutional amendment before Alabama voters. Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA) CEO David Bronner hopes that Governor Kay Ivey will call a special session to address the issue.

“Alabama needs new revenue. There have been no meaningful COLAs for RSA retirees in 18 years! There is no affordable healthcare coverage for nearly 200,000 Alabamians, many of whom are employed in low-paying positions. Rural hospitals are dropping like flies! Even great new programs like ‘Working for Alabama’ by Governor Ivey require additional funding for child care and housing to make an impact,” Bronner stated in the June issue of RSA’s The Advisor newsletter. “We also need to that every state agency, from State Police to Mental Health, has been grossly underfunded for decades until the federal arrival of COVID funds, which all states are now losing.”

Bronner’s Call to Action

Bronner is urging RSA to advocate for a special session on gambling. “First, I am asking each member of the RSA to encourage Governor Ivey to continue to make Alabama a little better and get the essential funds to continue improving the state with a special session on gaming,” he wrote.

“Second, to thank each House and Senate member who voted for this new revenue,” he continued. “Third, to ask everyone who voted against new revenue how they plan to address the state’s problems without any new revenue in light of the recent tax cuts and loss of federal monies. Alabama needs to move forward, not form a firing squad within a circle!”

Governor Ivey, however, has indicated that she does not plan to call a special session on gambling.

The Legislative Battle Over Gambling

The House and Senate ed different gambling and lottery proposals during the previous session. A legislative package that would have established a lottery and 10 electronic casinos across the state narrowly failed in the Senate by one vote after ing the House. Many Senators who opposed the proposal argued that it was too expansive.

“I would use the word ‘greedy,'” State Senator Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) commented on Mobile radio’s “The Jeff Poor Show” on May 10. “‘Ambitious’ is kind. They got greedy, and I’m not talking about my colleagues. I’m talking about the gaming interests. They wanted more and more and more and more. There is a point where that is not acceptable. And good for the Alabama Senate for saying that is not acceptable, that is too much. Good for Senator Bell for saying that. I obviously voted right along with him. We want to give the people the right and the ability to vote on a lottery. We’re not interested in widespread casino gaming. We certainly are not interested in the Democratic wish list of Medicaid expansion, huge increases for retirees — so much for a defined benefit plan, right?”

Looking Ahead

The future of gambling legislation in Alabama remains uncertain. With significant opposition from key political figures and a lack of consensus within the legislature, it is unclear when or if Alabama voters will have the opportunity to decide on a gambling and lottery constitutional amendment. However, RSA’s Bronner continues to advocate for new revenue sources to address the state’s pressing financial needs, emphasizing the potential benefits of a special session focused on gambling.

Source:

“RSA’s Bronner asks retirees to encourage Ivey to call special session on gambling”, 1819 News, May 31, 2024.