By Bob Howell – WSFA 12 News, Montgomery, AL

Artur Davis continues to support a plan to let Alabamians vote on the question of electronic bingo.  Here are the specifics from his campaign office:

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Let the People Decide: Davis Endorses “Up or Down” Statewide Vote on Electronic Gambling

 

BIRMINGHAM – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Artur Davis outlined a plan to break the legislative impasse over gambling at a press conference in Montgomery this morning. Davis has consistently criticized Governor Riley’s strategy of raiding bingo halls as a distraction that is costing the state jobs; at the same time, he has emphasized that legal gaming must be aggressively regulated and taxed.

“Last week, special interest maneuvering and partisan bickering derailed the electronic gambling legislation in the Alabama Senate,” said Congressman Davis. “I believe that a straightforward up or down vote on the question of electronic gambling is the way to break the logjam. Let’s give Alabamians the right to vote this November on a constitutional amendment that addresses the simple question of whether they want gambling to be a legal business enterprise in our state.”

Davis continued, “When the status of gambling is resolved by a vote of the people, our state’s leaders can return to the far more important challenge of rebuilding our economy and combating the double-digit unemployment rate that is wrecking the dreams of families around this state.”

Davis outlined several details of his approach to gambling, including details of a streamlined ‘up or down’ amendment:

-The streamlined up or down vote Davis proposes will not contain controversial provisions that dictate or cap the number of legal casinos.  Nor will it address specific taxation questions, which will be reserved for the 2011 legislative session.

-The Davis amendment will require that in the event electronic gaming is approved, the Legislature will have 60 calendar days from the start of the next legislative session to set a permanent tax rate and to establish a statewide gaming commission that would determine the procedure for licensing gaming institutions.  Until a commission is established and a tax rate is set, the amendment will not become effective.

-As Governor, Davis will advocate for an aggressive taxation rate that is at or above the national average. Davis believes that portions of the proceeds for taxation should be directed to school districts that contain casinos, while the largest share of the revenues will be directed to the state’s education trust fund and general fund.

-As Governor, Davis will advocate for a robust, independent statewide gaming commission that will conduct rigorous, independent oversight of gambling operators. 

Davis added, “My proposal for an up or down vote will not be favored by certain special interests, who want our state’s laws to establish a monopoly for certain casino operators. Nor will it be favored by forces who claim they want the people to decide but who actually want to lock in certain special protections that would help them eliminate their competitors.”

Filed under: Elections