Two groups are working independently regarding bills concerning video poker and abortion that will go before the Alabama Legislature this week.
Lisa Myers, executive director of Citizens for a Better Alabama, said her organization has sent 1,500 packages to Baptist churches across Alabama that include a videotape on the effects of video gambling in South Carolina. She said the packages also include a letter from the Citizens for a Better Alabama, urging congregations to contact their state senators and representatives to voice their opposition to video gambling.
Also, a group of pro-life legislators said they plan a rally at the state capitol Feb. 8 to voice support for three bills relating to abortion. State Sen. Albert Lipscomb of Baldwin County said the rally will be moderated by Dan Ireland, head of Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP).
Myers said if Alabama legislators vote in favor of video poker at the four dog tracks in Jefferson, Mobile, Greene and Macon counties, the issue will be decided by a vote of citizens in those counties.
“If it’s passed there, the dog tracks will have video poker,” Myers said. “And what that does, instead of introducing it in a grand scale for the whole state to pass, they’re going to pass it little by little.”
Myers predicts a domino effect will follow, with the entire state eventually allowing video poker gambling.
“The way that we’re approaching it — since there’s not going to be a vote of the people — we have to get the people to call their legislators and say we don’t want video poker,” Myers said.
In addition to focusing on the defeat of video poker, Myers said Citizens for a Better Alabama is working with members of the Legislature to introduce legislation prohibiting the expansion of gambling in Alabama.
“There would be a constitutional amendment that would allow for a referendum to change the (state) constitution to prohibit any further gambling coming into the state,” she said.
Headed by Jim Cooper, Myers said Citizens for a Better Alabama was formerly Citizens Against a Legalized Lottery.
Lipscomb said the pro-life rally Feb. 8 will focus on bills concerning a woman’s right to know, a bill amending parental consent laws, and a requirement that doctors performing abortions have local hospital admitting privileges. Lipscomb said the rally will also focus on support for a bill banning assisted suicide.
“It’s not abortion related, but it’s certainly pro-life,” Lipscomb said of the fourth bill.
Lipscomb said Gov. Don Siegelman and Lt. Gov. Steve Windom have been invited to attend the rally.
“We’re asking that they support the package of pro-life bills,” Lipscomb said.
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