>> FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY.

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

TODAY WAS THE FOURTH DAY OF THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND IT CAME WITH SOME DRAMATIC MOMENTS.

WE'LL START IN THE SENATE, WHERE THE BODY DEBATED A PROPOSAL FROM STATE SENATOR GARLAND GUDGER THAT WOULD CRIMINALIZE WHAT REPUBLICANS CALL BALLOT HARVESTING, OR THE PAID COLLECTION AND SUBMISSION OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

SENATE BILL ONE WOULD MAKE IT A MISDEMEANOR TO HANDLE A NON FAMILY MEMBER'S ABSENTEE BALLOT OR TO DISTRIBUTE BALLOT APPLICATIONS WITH PRE-FILLED VOTER INFORMATION.

IT WOULD MAKE IT A FELONY TO PAY SOMEONE OR RECEIVE PAYMENT TO "DISTRIBUTE, ORDER, REQUEST COLLECT, PRE-FILL, COMPLETE, OBTAIN, OR DELIVER A VOTER'S ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION”.

DEMOCRATS STRONGLY OBJECT TO THE PROPOSAL, SAYING INAPPROPRIATE ACTIVITY IS RARE AND THAT THIS WOULD MAKE IT HARDER FOR ELDERLY AND DISABLED PEOPLE TO VOTE.

THAT LED TO A MORE THAN TWO HOUR FILIBUSTER ON THE SENATE FLOOR.

>> I'VE HEARD THERE'S ISSUES WITH THE BILL, LIMITS PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO VOTE.

AND THAT'S NOT WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE TO GET TO THE POLLS AND GETTING PEOPLE TO THE VOTE, MAKING SURE IT'S A FREE AND OPEN, SECURE PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THEIR BALLOTS COUNT.

THE KEY IS, IT'S NOT ALWAYS SECURE.

THIS BILL DEALS WITH THE LAST LEG OF THE ELECTION INTEGRITY LAWS THAT WE NEED IN ALABAMA.

I DO DISAGREE WITH THE FACT, RESPECTFULLY, YOU ARE SAYING THAT IT IS HAPPENING.

AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT DATA THAT'S BEING PRESENTED ACROSS THE STATE TO SAY THAT IT IS HAPPENING.

BECAUSE IF IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING, IN TERMS OF HARVESTING BALLOTS AND PAYING PEOPLE TO DO THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE HAVEN'T HAD MORE CONVICTIONS.

>> THE BILL EVENTUALLY PASSED ON A 28-7 VOTE AND NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE.

TENSIONS ALSO RAN HIGH TODAY AT A SENATE COMMITTEE MEETING AS MEMBERS CLASHED OVER A BILL AIMING TO OVERHAUL THE GOVERNING STRUCTURE OF THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY.

SENATE BILL 77 FROM SENATOR CHRIS ELLIOTT WOULD REPLACE THE CURRENT SELF PERPETUATING BOARD WITH ONE CHOSEN BY THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS.

IT IS IN RESPONSE TO A BROWN BAG LUNCH DISCUSSION ON THE HISTORY OF GAY AND LESBIAN ALABAMIANS HELD AT ARCHIVES LAST YEAR.

THE BILL PASSED COMMITTEE WITH SOME REVISIONS, BUT ELLIOTT GOT PUSHBACK FROM SENATOR MERIKA COLEMAN WHO SAID THE VOTE WAS RUSHED.

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>> FAVORABLE REPORT ON THE BILL.

YEAH, THIS IS HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK, OKAY.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE MOTION.

GET A SECOND.

I'M GOING TO LEAVE!

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO US LIKE THAT.

YOU ARE GOING TO RUN OVER US ANY WAY.

YOU DON'T TALK TO US, LIKE, WE'RE AN EQUAL MEMBER OF THE BODY.

>> I WANT TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS SO WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS IN AN ORGANIZED MANNER.

THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

>> THIS LEGISLATION CHANGES THAT, AND REQUIRES THAT THEY ARE APPOINTED BY THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

THE NUMBER CHANGED FROM 2 APPOINTEES TO THREE.

AND IT REQUIRES THE GOVERNOR TO SERVE ON THE BOARD TOO, TO MAKE IT AN ODD NUMBER WHICH IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING ON A DELIBERATIVE BOARD.

>> THAT BILL WILL BE ON THE FLOOR WHEN THE SENATE CONVENES TOMORROW.

ONTO THE ISSUE OF GAMBLING.

HOUSE BILLS 151 AND 152, THE COMPREHENSIVE GAMBLING PACKAGE SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS BLACKSHEAR, WERE THE SUBJECT OF A PUBLIC HEARING TODAY IN THE HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM COMMITTEE.

THE ROOM WAS PACKED FULL OF PROPONENTS AND OPPONENTS OF THE PLAN, SEVERAL OF WHOM SHARED THEIR THOUGHTS WITH LAWMAKERS.

BLACKSHEAR EXPLAINED HIS PROPOSAL TO THE ROOM AND FIELDED SOME QUESTIONS.

SOME SUPPORTING THE BILL SAID IT WAS TIME FOR ALABAMA TO START TAXING AND REGULATING GAMBLING THAT ALREADY GOES ON HERE, WHILE OPPONENTS SAID EXPANDING GAMBLING COULD HARM FAMILIES.

>> REPEALS AND REPLACES SECTION 67 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA AS A WHOLE.

2022.

IT REPEALS ALL LOCAL CA'S RELATED TO GAMING AND ANY FUTURE CA'S RELATED TO GAMING.

IT ESTABLISHES THE ALABAMA GAMING COMMISSION AND ESTABLISHES THE LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION UNDER THE ALABAMA GAMING COMMISSION.

PROHIBITS ALL FORMS OF GAMING IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA FOR THE EXCEPTION OF THE FOLLOWING.

ONE, A STATE EDUCATION LOTTERY.

TWO, CASINO-STYLE GAMES.

THREE, SPORTS WAGERING.

FOUR, TRADITIONAL RAFFLS.

AND FIVE, TRADITIONAL BINGO.

THIS LEGISLATION IN THE CA ALSO ALLOWS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF NO MORE THAN SEVEN CASINO LICENSES.

>> GAMBLING IS VERY PREDICTIVE AND VERY DESTRUCTIVE.

NOTHING GOOD COMES FROM GAMBLING.

IT'S DESTROYING OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR CITIES, AND OUR STATE.

NO AMOUNT OF REVENUE, AND NO AMOUNT OF GROWTH CAN SUFFICE FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE UNDERLYING DARKNESS THAT GAMBLING BRINGS.

>> THERE WAS NO VOTE ON THE BILLS IN COMMITTEE, BUT THAT COULD HAPPEN AS SOON AS TOMORROW.

A COALITION OF CONSERVATIVE GROUPS OPPOSED TO THE GAMBLING PLAN BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE GATHERED FOR A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY URGING LAWMAKERS TO NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THE LEGISLATION.

LED BY THE ALABAMA POLICY INSTITUTE, THE GROUP INCLUDED THE ALABAMA FARMERS FEDERATION, EAGLE FORUM OF ALABAMA THE ALABAMA CITIZENS ACTION PROGRAM, OR ALCAP AND THE ALABAMA BAPTIST CONVENTION.

FOR DIFFERENT REASONS: ETHICAL, ECONOMIC AND SPIRITUAL, THE GROUPS' LEADERS EXPLAINED THEIR OPPOSITION.

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>> WE DO NOT ALABAMA LIKE A FORM OF LAS VEGAS.

>> SO TO STOP THE ILLEGAL GAMING, THAT IS MADE UP, THAT'S A P.R.

CAMPAIGN MADE UP BY THE LOBBYING ASSOCIATION FOR THE AMERICAN GAMBLING ASSOCIATION WHICH IS A LOBBYING TERM.

THEY TOLD US THEY ARE GOING TO GET RID OF IT.

GUESS WHAT HAPPENED?

IT SKYROCKETED.

38% MORE ONLINE, BEGGING TRYING TO FIND ONLINE ILLEGAL SPORTS BETTING AFTER THIS.

>> THIS BILL IS AWFUL FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE, CREATES A BUREAUCRACY IMMUNE FROM ALL ACCOUNTABILITY.

MOST OF THE MONEY FROM GAMBLING COMES FROM THE INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD THE GAMBLING.

THE STATE TO TAKE FUNDS FROM THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE, DIVIDE IT AMONGST THEMSELVES, WHOEVER RUNS THE GAMBLING IN THE STATE IS POOR GOVERNMENT.

>> JUST JUDGING BY THE TENSION TODAY HERE IN THE STATE HOUSE, THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG ISSUE EARLY IN THE SESSION.

WE'LL BE COVERING IT FULLY HERE ON CAPITOL JOURNAL.

IN FACT, COMING UP ON THE SHOW, I'LL INTERVIEW THOSE FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE DEBATE.

REPRESENTATIVE SAM JONES WHO HELPED DEVELOP THE LEGISLATION AND ALABAMA POLICY INSTITUTE PRESIDENT STEPHANIE SMITH WHO LED TODAY'S EVENT OPPOSING IT.

THOSE INTERVIEWS WHEN WE COME BACK.

>> TODD STACY: WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT, STATE REPRESENTATIVE SAM JONES OF MOBILE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> PEOPLE KNOW YOU BEST AS MAYOR JONES OR COUNTY COMMISSION PRESIDENT JONES.

TALK ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND BEFORE YOU GOT TO THE LEGISLATURE.

>> I SERVED ON THE MOBILE COUNTY COMMISSION, FOUR TERMS.

I LEFT THE COUNTY COMMISSION, RAN FOR MAYOR.

I WAS MAYOR FOR EIGHT YEARS.

AFTER THAT, THEN I RAN FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

AND I WAS ELECTED TO DISTRICT 99, IN MOBILE COUNTY.

AND THIS IS MY SECOND TERM.

>> TODD STACY: WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE OF GAMBLING.

A BIG HEARING TODAY ON THE BILL.

NO VOTE YET FROM THAT TOURISM AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

BUT YOU WERE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS OF DRAFTING THE LEGISLATION, WORKING WITH REPRESENTATIVE BLACK SHEER.

TALKING ABOUT THE PROCESS AND DEVELOPING THE PRODUCT EVERYBODY IS DEBATING RIGHT NOW.

>> THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS HAS A GAMING COMMITTEE REALLY IT WAS FORMED LAST SESSION, DEVELOPING ISSUES WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN GAMING REGULATIONS AND WHAT WE CAN REACH COMMON GROUND ON WITH THE SPONSOR OF THE BILL.

SINCE LAST SESSION UP TO NOW, WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS, LAID OUT FOR THEM PARAMETERS THAT WE WERE REALLY INTERESTED IN BEING INVOLVED IN THE BILL.

AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MEET.

I WOULD SAY WE MET OVER EIGHT TIMES TO TALK ABOUT THE BILL, TALK ABOUT WHAT WE THOUGHT, AND HOW WE SHOULD PROCEED WITH IT.

THEY WERE VERY OPEN TO OUR DISCUSSION AND OPEN TO TALKING TO THEM.

DID WE ALWAYS AGREE?

NO.

WE DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE.

BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT IS WHEN YOU SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT LEGISLATION.

THERE'S NO PERFECT PIECE WHERE YOU TRY TO GET TO COMMON GROUND.

I BELIEVE WE REACHED COMMON GROUND AT SOME POINT.

>> SO FAIR TO SAY THE PRODUCT IS BIPARTISAN.

>> RIGHT, IT'S ABOUT THE EFFORT AND REALLY, A BIPARTISAN RESPONSE TO WHAT TOOK PLACE.

THINK IT'S SOMEWHAT UNUSUAL IN THIS PLACE.

>> TODD STACY: WELL, CERTAINLY UNUSUAL IN WASHINGTON THESE DAYS.

YOU TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS, AND YOU TALKED ABOUT DEMOCRATS INVOLVEMENT AND INPUT THERE.

I REMEMBER LAST TIME, 2021, ONE OF THE BREAKDOWNS WAS OVER HEALTHCARE.

AND SORT OF THE NITTY GRITTY WORDING ON EXACTLY HOW THAT MONEY, THE GAMBLING REVENUE WOULD BE SPENT.

AND THE DEMOCRATS WANTED DIFFERENT LANGUAGE THAN THE REPUBLICANS.

THERE WAS TALK OF HEALTHCARE BEING PAID FOR IN THIS BILL, GOING TOWARD SOME KIND OF HEALTHCARE PLAN, IS IT MEDICAID, WHATEVER.

ARE Y'ALL SATISFIED FOR THE LANGUAGE IN TERMS OF PRIORITY OF EXPANDED HEALTHCARE OPTIONS.

>> WE INITIALLY, BACK IN 2021, WE WERE REALLY INTERESTED IN MEDICAID EXPANSION.

WE THOUGHT WE COULD BENEFIT THE ENTIRE STATE WITH SOME OF THE REVENUE COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO OFFSET THE GAP WE HAVE IN THE COVERAGE.

IT'S A PRETTY LARGE GAP.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE THE WORKING POOR, WHO DO NOT HAVE HEALTHCARE, AND YET THEY WORK EVERYDAY.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO WERE UNABLE TO WORK, YOUNG PEOPLE AND CHILDREN.

AND WE THOUGHT WE SHOULD MAKE SOME EFFORT TO GIVE THOSE FOLKS SOME HEALTHCARE SERVICES.

SOME HAVE NONE.

SO, WHEN WE START MEETING THIS YEAR, THAT WAS A TOPIC WE WORKED ON.

NOT THE ONLY TOPIC, BUT ONE WE REALLY WORKED ON.

WE ALSO WORKED ON MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.

WE CAME TO A POINT TO SAY, LOOK.

IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU CALL IT.

WE JUST WANT THE PEOPLE TO GET THE SERVICES.

IF WE CAN FASHION SOMETHING TO GET THEM SERVICES, YOU CAN PUT YOUR NAME ON IT, WHOEVER YOU ARE TALKING TO.

[LAUGHTER] AND WE'RE JUST MAKING SURE THESE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED MANY RURAL HOSPITALS AND DOCTORS LEAVING THE AREA BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THEM THE BILLS WITHOUT SOME FORM OF SUBSIDY.

AND IN LOTS OF AREAS, THERE'S NO PHYSICIAN AVAILABLE.

PEOPLE HAVE TO GO TO MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS FOR SERVICES.

AND EVEN EMERGENCY SERVICES IN SOME CASES.

AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THE STATE NEEDS TO ADDRESS AND ADDRESS IT IN A MANNER WHERE WE CAN HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SUFFER AS A RESULT OF NO HEALTHCARE.

WE TALKED THAT OUT.

AND YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE SAY, OH, WE DON'T WANT MEDICAID.

FINE.

IF YOU DON'T WANT MEDICAID, WE'LL CALL IT WHATEVER YOU CALL IT, AS LONG AS WE GET QUALITY MEDICAL SERVICES THAT THEY GET.

>> TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE OPPOSITION TALKING POINTS THAT THEY SAID AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIAL CORRUPTION FROM GAMBLING INTERESTS COMING INTO THE STATE.

THEY WERE TALKING TO THE ADDICTIVE NATURE OF PREDATORY GAMBLING, ESPECIALLY ON THE SPORTS BETTING SIDE.

SAYING ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, HEY, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE WANT EXPANDING IN ALABAMA.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THE ARGUMENTS OF CORRUPTION AND ADDICTION.

WELL, I THINK THAT THE WAY THAT WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER THIS LEGISLATION, IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR CORRUPTION TO BE A PART OF THIS BECAUSE, THE CAUSE OF PUTTING TOGETHER THE ENFORCEMENT POLICY OR ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, AUDITORS AND ALL OF THAT IS PART OF THE PROCESS OF ACTUALLY GETTING A LICENSE IN ALABAMA.

AND THAT LICENSE IS ALWAYS MONITORED BY THE COMMISSION.

SO, WE LOOKED AT THAT, AND WE LOOKED AT IT FROM OTHER AREAS AND WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS A PROBLEM INITIALLY.

THE ADVANTAGE THAT WE HAD, WE HAD BEEN TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY RUN THE GAMING OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

AND WHAT THEY SAID TO US, YOU ARE IN A PRETTY GOOD POSITION BECAUSE YOU HAVE SEEN EVERYBODY ELSE OPERATE AND LET US TELL YOU SOME OF THE PITFALLS THAT EXIST THERE.

SO, WE'VE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE THOSE KIND OF DISCUSSIONS AND WE'VE TRIED TO GO BEHIND THE DISCUSSIONS AND ANY LOOPHOLES THAT ARE THERE, WE'VE TRIED TO FILL THE LOOPHOLES.

SO, I'M PRETTY COMFORTABLE HOW THE ENFORCEMENT WOULD TAKE PLACE.

>> TODD STACY: IT'S STILL EARLY, NOT GETTING TO THE VOTING COMMITTEE YET.

BUT WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE CHANCES?

DO YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT IT NEEDS TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE HOUSE?

AND TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE SENATE?

>> I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY THE BEST SHOT WE'VE HAD IN SOME TIME.

I CAN'T SAY WHO IS GOING TO VOTE AND WHAT POSITION.

BUT THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA, IING TELL YOU -- I CAN TELL YOU, HAVE BEEN WANTING TO MAKE A DECISION ON VOTING.

ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS SAID, YOU GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE FOR YOU, WHY CAN'T YOU GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE FOR GAMBLING.

SO, THAT'S REAL.

IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE WHAT THEY ARE VOTING ON HAS NECESSARY SAFEGUARDS IN IT, THAT IT'S FAIR TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED.

THE DISTRIBUTION OF REVENUE IS FAIRLY DISPERSED TO THE NEEDS IN THIS STATE AND HELPING THE PEOPLE IN THE STATE.

WE'VE TRIED TO DO THAT AND WE HAVE WORKED HARD IN DOING THAT.

THIS PROCESS IS NOT A SHORT PROCESS, THIS WEEKEND, WE WORKED, NOTICING IT'S THE MARDI GRAS WEEKEND IN MOBILE AND I WORKED THE WHOLE MARDI GRAS WEEKEND DEALING WITH GAMING.

IT'S QUITE IMPORTANT TO THE STATE.

IT'S IN MOBILE WHERE I LIVE, IT'S NOT WHERE, BUT WE HAVE SEVEN CASINOS LESS THAN 7 MILES FROM MY HOUSE.

THEY DO GAMBLING.

BUT I DON'T SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENT SITUATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI THAT'S CAUSED CORRUPTION OR LOTS OF OTHER THINGS.

IN FACT, WHAT I HAVE SEEN SOME DEVELOPMENT IN THAT STATE AS A RESULT OF THE GAMING, AS A RESULT OF THE REVENUE COMING IN FROM THE GAMING, ESPECIALLY IN THE TERMS OF EDUCATION.

>> TODD STACY: WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW, AND FOR A MOBILE GUY, HAPPY MARDI GRAS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> TODD STACY: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK!

>> TODD STACY: WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT, STEPHANIE SMITH, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE ALABAMA POLICY INSTITUTE.

THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> YOU LED A COALITION OF GROUPS, INDIVIDUALS, FAITH LEADERS IN OPPOSITION TO THE GAMBLING BILL TODAY.

YOU HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE.

TALK ABOUT THE GROUP, HOW IT CAME TOGETHER, A BROAD COALITION OPPOSED TO THE BILL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS AFTERNOON.

THEY WERE A MULTITUDE OF GROUPS REPRESENTED THERE, FROM THE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY, BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND ALSO, ADVOCACY GROUPS.

THE COMMONALITY OF THE GROUPS WAS THE NEWEST PROPOSED LEGISLATION FOR GAMBLING.

SOME WERE THERE FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS, SOME WERE THERE BECAUSE THEY THINK THE BILL IS CORRUPT.

AND SOME WERE THERE BECAUSE THEY THINK IT'S JUST BAD FOR ALABAMA.

>> AND YOU TALKED ABOUT IT BEING CORRUPT, BAD BUSINESS FOR ALABAMA, SO WHAT'S YOUR TOP OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE?

>> API, FREE LIMITED GOVERNMENT AND STRONG FAMILIES.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE STRANGE ISSUES THAT HITS ALL THREE OF THOSE AT ONCE.

WE'RE AGAINST THE BILL BECAUSE OF FIXED MARKET, IT'S WRITTEN CORRUPTION INTO THE BILL.

IT CREATES A SYSTEM TO WHERE THERE IS A SOMEWHAT OF A BIDDING PROCESS, BUT IT'S, WHAT I WOULD SAY, IT'S A BIDDING PROCESS THAT'S SELECTIVE.

AND I THINK THAT PICKING WINNERS, GOVERNMENT PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS IS THE WRONG ANSWER.

AND FROM LIMITED GOVERNMENT, IT GROWS BUREAUCRACY AND UNACCOUNTABLE BROCCOLI WITH THE LOTTERY AND GAMING COMMISSION BEING APPOINTED, NO ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PEOPLE.

IT'S EXTREMELY POWERFUL.

AND ESPECIALLY THE GAMING COMMISSION HAS FULL POLICE FORCE POWERS.

AND THE THIRD TENET OF OUR GROUP IS STRONG FAMILIES.

WE WANT TO PROPOSE PUBLIC POLICIES THAT'S GOOD FOR FAMILY AND INCREASING ACCESS TO BETTING, SPORTS BETTING AND PHYSICAL CASINOS IS BAD FOR FAMILIES.

YOU SAID CORRUPTION IS WRITTEN INTO THE BILL.

THAT'S A STRONG CHARGE.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

ONE, LEGALIZES ILLEGAL OPERATIONS UNTIL 2027.

THE PROPONENTS OF THE BILL WERE ADVOCATING FOR MONTHS, REALLY WHAT THEY WANT TO INCREASE IS EBB ENFORCEMENT AND DECREASE ILLEGAL GAMBLING BUT THEY WROTE INTO THE BILL THE ILLEGAL OPERATIONS COULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE UNTIL 2027.

I JUST TALK HAD TO THE LEGISLATURE, THERE WERE TWO THAT CLOSED AND OPENED BACK UP SINCE THEY READ THE LEGISLATION!

AND IN ADDITIONS, WRITING CORRUPTION INTO THE BILL.

THE GAMING COMMISSION AND THE EMPLOYEES OF THE COMMISSION HAVE DIFFERENT RULES AND ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS THAT I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND.

PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE REGULATION OF THIS INDUSTRY CAN ACTUALLY BE THE OWNERS OF THE GAMBLING INDUSTRY!

UP TO 1% OWNER.

THAT DOESN'T SOUND VERY MUCH, BUT UNTIL YOU KNOW THE SHEER DOLLARS INVOLVED THAT THE GAMBLING INDUSTRY CREATES.

>> TODD STACY: WHEN I HEAR MR. BLACKSHEAR AND OTHERS THEY BRING US, GAMBLING IS ALREADY HERE.

CASINOS HERE, SURROUNDED BY LOTTERIES AND SPORTS BETTING AND SOMEBODY BROUGHT IT UP TODAY, HEY, IT'S HAPPENING IN AN ILLEGAL FASHION.

IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, WHY DON'T WE TAX IT, REGULATE IT AND BRING IT UNDER CONTROL.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO ARGUMENTS LIKE THAT.

>> WELL, I WOULD THINK THAT'S A VALID ARGUMENT EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT THIS BILL DOESN'T DO THAT.

NO.

IT'S A HUGE EXPANSION, ZERO CLASS 3 CASINOS TO CLASS 10 CASINOSES AND ALLOWS THE GAMBLING COMMISSION TO MOVE THE CASINOS, CHANGE OWNERSHIP, NO CITY COUNTY OR ANYWHERE IS SAFE FROM HAVING A CASINO IN THE BACKYARD IF THIS BILL HAPPENS.

AND THE OTHER THING, WE CAN INCREASE ENFORCEMENT WITHOUT INCREASING CAPACITY.

WE CAN CLOSE THE ILLEGAL PLACES AND WITHOUT INCLUDING THE OTHER OPTIONS, BRICK AND MORTAR AND THE SPORTS BETTING.

>> WELL, THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE GOVERNOR IN FULL SUPPORT.

YOU SAW THAT IN THE STATE OF THE STATE.

THE SPEAKER BEHIND THE SCENES BUT REALLY HAS THE PROCESS GOING BY APPOINTING THESE LAWMAKERS.

SO, THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

MAYBE A LITTLE MORE MOMENTUM THAN IN YEARS PAST.

AND WHAT'S THE FEEDBACK THEN FROM THE LEGISLATURE AS YOU HAVE APPROACHED MEMBERS AND MADE THESE ARGUMENTS?

ARE THEY RESPONSIVE?

OR DOES IT SEEM LIKE THIS IS MOVING FAST?

>> I THINK IT IS DEFINITELY A FULL COURT PRESS.

NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

I'VE TALKED ON AND OFF ABOUT THE SPONSORS OF THE BILL AND THE SPEAKER, ABOUT THE LEGISLATION SINCE THE SUMMER.

IT'S NOT A SURPRISE IT'S A FULL COURT PRESS.

BUT I SAY, THAT THE OPPOSITION TO THIS IS A FULL COURT PRESS.

WE'VE DONE DUE DILIGENCENS, WRITING OUR REPORTS, CREATING A SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S IN THE BILL.

AND THE QUESTION HOW LEGISLATORS ARE REACTING, IT'S 150 PAGES BETWEEN THE TWO BILLS AND I KNOW HARDLY ANY SENATORS BUT FEW LEGISLATORS HAVE READ IT AND THEY ARE SHOCKED WHEN THEY HEAR WHAT'S IN THE BILL.

>> SO, MAYBE DISTANCE BETWEEN WHAT'S SAID PUBLICLY AND THE DETAILS GETTING DOWN TO THE NITTY GRITTY.

>> YOU MENTIONED AN ORGANIZATION IN OPPOSITION AND THERE'S PRE ORGANIZED OPPONENTS.

AND I'M GETTING THEY ARE A LITTLE BETTER FUNDED, THE ONES FOR THE GAMBLING INDUSTRY.

AND THE ORGANIZATION SUCH AS YOURS AND CHURCH-BASED, HOW DO YOU COME PETE WITH WHAT COULD BE BIG BUCKS FROM THE CASINO SAD.

WELL, THERE'S NO WAY WE MATCH THEM DOLLAR OR DOLLAR BUT WE HAVE THE ISSUES ON OUR SIDE AND I REALLY TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA, IF THEY KNOW WHAT'S IN THE BILL, THEY ARE NOT FOR IT.

I DON'T THINK THEY ARE FOR EXPANDING CASINOS IN EVERY CORNER STATEWIDE.

I KNOW FOR SURE THEY ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF HAVING DIGITAL GAMBLING ON 1.5 MILLION PHONES IN THE STATE.

>> IT'S AN ISSUE WE'LL FOLLOW HERE IN THE STATE.

I APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT.

THANKS SO MUCH, STEPHANIE SMITH, ALABAMA POLICY INSTITUTE.

THANKS FOR BEING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

FOR YOUR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, THE HOUSE CONVENES AT 9:00 TOMORROW AND THE SENATE COMES IN AT 3:00.

AND WE'LL BE BACK ON THE AIR TOMORROW NIGHT, RIGHT HERE SAME TIME, FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M TODD STACY AND WE'LL SEE YOU