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Bingo bills draw lots of attention
Local bingo constitutional amendments for Macon and Greene counties are
drawing a lot of interest both from inside and outside Alabama.
Senators who support a bingo amendment for Macon County and a similar amendment for Greene County filibustered their bills for a third Senate work day.
The Macon County amendment by Sen. Myron Penn, D-Union Springs, and an amendment for Greene County sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, are opposed by some of the state's most powerful lobbyists for clients who have their own bingo turfs to protect.
Opposition bills comes from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, who have their own federally protected bingo casinos near Montgomery and Atmore, as well as Walker County bingo interests, casino interests in Mississippi and the Alabama Citizens Action Program.
"You've got every faction involved," Penn said Thursday.
Macon County dog track owner Milton McGregor supports Penn's measure that has stalled action in the Senate for three legislative days since March.
Penn, Singleton and supporters have filibustered their own proposed amendments to keep them alive and also in the hopes that a compromise or lobbying can produce the 21 Senate votes that are required to pass a constitutional amendment.
"It's wrong for out-of-state interests to dictate public policy in Alabama plus in-state Indian interests who don't pay any taxes," McGregor said. He said he's the largest taxpayer in Macon County and the largest employer.
Singleton's proposed amendment for Greene County hasn't come up but how goes Penn's measure so goes Singleton's.
McGregor also contends that other gambling interests are noticing Alabama. "Why would someone from Las Vegas care about a local bill?" he asked.
McGregor owns the Macon County greyhound track where electronic bingo reigns over pari-mutuel dog racing.
He also owns the larger Birmingham Race Course where he hopes another constitutional amendment sponsored by Rep. Marcel Black, D-Tuscumbia, will authorize bingo. Black's measure also would authorize bingo at the Mobile greyhound track.
Nat Winn, president of the Greenetrack Entertainment Complex in Eutaw, declined comment.
McGregor, Penn and Singleton say the Macon and Greene county constitutional amendments, if voters approve, would only transfer authority over bingo from the local sheriffs to the existing racing commissions, tax bingo and distribute money to local communities.
But opponents of the measures say if that's the case, why is Penn's measure 14 pages in length and addresses legal immunity and other issues.
"If the whole deal is all they want to do is take the authority from the sheriff and give it to the racing commission, that can be in one page," said lobbyist Logan Gray, who represents former state Sen. Bob Wilson Jr., D-Jasper, and Walker County bingo interests.
John Teague, a lobbyist for Poarch Creek Indians, said he could care less who regulates bingo and what the local taxes are.
"But Mr. McGregor said all he wants to do is change the regulation from the sheriff to the racing commission, and if this bill goes so much farther, it has implications for gaming throughout the state," Teague said.
Every now and then senators chimed in with their opinions about the bingo filibuster.
"It'd be nice to know what this bill is about," Sen. Wendell Mitchell, D-Luverrne, said.
"I think the Mississippi people are here to put a damper on this process," said Sen. E.B. McClain, D-Midfield. "We need to cash in on this cash cow."
Meanwhile, Penn, Singleton and McGregor tout the local constitutional amendments as economic development issues because the dog tracks where bingo operates employ hundreds and they and the tracks pay millions of dollars in taxes and payroll.
"This is my Mercedes, this is my Hyundai, this is my ThyssenKrupp," Singleton said, mentioning major automotive and steel manufacturing projects in more urban areas.
"This is something you may not like. You may not indulge in it, but it works in my area," he said.
The senators also say the usual legislative courtesy of allowing only local legislators to vote on local legislation is being violated.
"They are good-paying jobs for the very first time, so don't stop my people from having the right to vote on it," Singleton said.
The Senate closed shop until Tuesday with no action on the bill.
Written by Dana Beyerle
www.timesdaily.com
Senators who support a bingo amendment for Macon County and a similar amendment for Greene County filibustered their bills for a third Senate work day.
The Macon County amendment by Sen. Myron Penn, D-Union Springs, and an amendment for Greene County sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, are opposed by some of the state's most powerful lobbyists for clients who have their own bingo turfs to protect.
Opposition bills comes from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, who have their own federally protected bingo casinos near Montgomery and Atmore, as well as Walker County bingo interests, casino interests in Mississippi and the Alabama Citizens Action Program.
"You've got every faction involved," Penn said Thursday.
Macon County dog track owner Milton McGregor supports Penn's measure that has stalled action in the Senate for three legislative days since March.
Penn, Singleton and supporters have filibustered their own proposed amendments to keep them alive and also in the hopes that a compromise or lobbying can produce the 21 Senate votes that are required to pass a constitutional amendment.
"It's wrong for out-of-state interests to dictate public policy in Alabama plus in-state Indian interests who don't pay any taxes," McGregor said. He said he's the largest taxpayer in Macon County and the largest employer.
Singleton's proposed amendment for Greene County hasn't come up but how goes Penn's measure so goes Singleton's.
McGregor also contends that other gambling interests are noticing Alabama. "Why would someone from Las Vegas care about a local bill?" he asked.
McGregor owns the Macon County greyhound track where electronic bingo reigns over pari-mutuel dog racing.
He also owns the larger Birmingham Race Course where he hopes another constitutional amendment sponsored by Rep. Marcel Black, D-Tuscumbia, will authorize bingo. Black's measure also would authorize bingo at the Mobile greyhound track.
Nat Winn, president of the Greenetrack Entertainment Complex in Eutaw, declined comment.
McGregor, Penn and Singleton say the Macon and Greene county constitutional amendments, if voters approve, would only transfer authority over bingo from the local sheriffs to the existing racing commissions, tax bingo and distribute money to local communities.
But opponents of the measures say if that's the case, why is Penn's measure 14 pages in length and addresses legal immunity and other issues.
"If the whole deal is all they want to do is take the authority from the sheriff and give it to the racing commission, that can be in one page," said lobbyist Logan Gray, who represents former state Sen. Bob Wilson Jr., D-Jasper, and Walker County bingo interests.
John Teague, a lobbyist for Poarch Creek Indians, said he could care less who regulates bingo and what the local taxes are.
"But Mr. McGregor said all he wants to do is change the regulation from the sheriff to the racing commission, and if this bill goes so much farther, it has implications for gaming throughout the state," Teague said.
Every now and then senators chimed in with their opinions about the bingo filibuster.
"It'd be nice to know what this bill is about," Sen. Wendell Mitchell, D-Luverrne, said.
"I think the Mississippi people are here to put a damper on this process," said Sen. E.B. McClain, D-Midfield. "We need to cash in on this cash cow."
Meanwhile, Penn, Singleton and McGregor tout the local constitutional amendments as economic development issues because the dog tracks where bingo operates employ hundreds and they and the tracks pay millions of dollars in taxes and payroll.
"This is my Mercedes, this is my Hyundai, this is my ThyssenKrupp," Singleton said, mentioning major automotive and steel manufacturing projects in more urban areas.
"This is something you may not like. You may not indulge in it, but it works in my area," he said.
The senators also say the usual legislative courtesy of allowing only local legislators to vote on local legislation is being violated.
"They are good-paying jobs for the very first time, so don't stop my people from having the right to vote on it," Singleton said.
The Senate closed shop until Tuesday with no action on the bill.
Written by Dana Beyerle
www.timesdaily.com
