The Mobile Republican is campaigning on his jobs plan in the Birmingham metro today.

Still, he admits the current electronic bingo debate is a dominant topic on the trail.

This morning on FOX6 News Good Day Alabama, Byrne declared “gaming is not the answer to our economic development.” He dismisses the jobs argument electronic bingo supporters are currently using in the legal dispute with the Riley administration.

“In truth, there’s a net loss in jobs from the gaming industry because that money does not turn back over in the economy.”

Gov. Riley finds himself defending his Task Force raid attempts. Wednesday, Riley said he acted when the Attorney General and some district attorneys failed to enforce the law. Read  Phil Rawls AP story here. The governor is also featured in a new TV spot from the anti-gambling group Citizens for a Better Alabama.

“He (Riley) has taken, in most regards in my judgement, a responsible way of trying to go out there and deal with it, “Byrne says about Riley, “I wouldn’t sit idly by… we know these are illegal.”

Byrne also discusses this week’s campaign finance reports. Republican rival Tim James reports the most money raised with $4.1 million. A large part, $2.7 million, came from loans both by James and three associates. Byrne leads the field with contributions, $2.6 million.

Byrne says he can be a true reformer in Alabama even with large contributions from individuals and PACs.

“If you are going to really reform Montgomery, you must take on the number one special interest and that is Paul Hubbert and the AEA. If you notice, none of that money is coming into the Bradley Byrne campaign.”

Read the full interview here.

For campaign finance reports, click on the candidate below.

Republicans:
Robert Bentley
Bradley Byrne
Kay Ivey
Tim James 2009, 2010
Bill Johnson
Roy Moore
James Potts (no report filed)

Democrats:
Artur Davis
Ron Sparks

Rick Journey

Critics, led by the Alabama Education Association, say the bill takes money from public schools.

“Charter schools take taxpayers dollars,” Lance Hyche tells FOX6 News.

Hyche is with the Birmingham office of AEA.

He says, “they (charter schools) don’t play by the same regulations, the same rules. We know it only weakens the public school system in Alabama.”

Charter schools are public schools, French insists. Republican strategy centers around promoting charter schools as a way to create new revenue in a budget-lean year.

That doesn’t fly with many of French’s fellow lawmakers in Jefferson county.

Rep. Oliver Robinson (D-Birmingham) says for starters, the federal dollars ($200 million, the governor estimates) are competitive, not a guarantee.

Rep. Robinson asks, “in two years, when the federal money is gone, do you take more money from public schools to fund charter schools?”

This morning on FOX6 News Good Day Alabama, Rep. John Rogers (D-Birmingham) bought time with his answer.

“I haven’t read the bill yet,” Rep. Rogers said.

Despite that fence-sitting, Rogers went to the point. He likes the potential for more federal dollars, but insists there is no chance such a bill will pass in this election year.

Watch the French/Rogers interview here.

Rick Journey