BINGO Bill = Big Bust in the Senate on Tuesday
Much anticipation surrounds a vote on Senator Roger Bedford’s (D) two bingo bills in the Alabama Senate. For over 3 weeks Senator Lowell Barron (D), chairman of the Rules committee, has teased members with the thought of calling up SB379 and SB380. For the past weeks, Barron has stalled but today he came with the goods. Barron introduced his special order calendar when the senate came back from a lunch recess at 2:00 pm. On his calendar were both of Bedford’s bingo bills.
Senator Hank Erwin (R), a strong opponent to BINGO legislation, spoke against the special order calendar. Erwin, trying to show how foolish gambling is, said that people might as well hook a strobe light up to their toilet and throw money down it.
After passing the special order calendar, which is a continuing calendar for 3 legislative days or until the bills are disposed of, Senator Roger Bedford called for a 30 minute recess. Following the recess, Senator Bedford came to the microphone to speak on the legislation. Bedford told the body that the bill was one of the toughest gambling bills in the country. He also conveyed to the body that their vote is not a vote for or against gambling, it’s a vote to let the people have the right to vote. After speaking on the bill, Bedford called for the Senate to adjourn until 10:00 tomorrow, March 3.
SB379 will be up for debate immediately when the Senate comes back into session at 10:00 am. Follow this blog for the most up to date information on BINGO legislation in the senate.
VIEW the BINGO bills up for debate:
Filed under: Legislature