Pro-alcohol lawmakers would not be deterred this legislative session, and neither Gov. Bob Riley’s veto nor repeated opposing votes would stop them from passing bills to increase alcohol content and expand alcohol sales across the state.
Before the session’s end May 15, legislators passed a House Bill (HB) 373 permitting the sale of beer with an alcohol content of up to 13.9 percent. They also overrode Riley’s veto of HB 175, which reduces the population requirement for holding a wet/dry referendum from 7,000 to 1,000 except in Blount, Clay and Randolph counties. This bill would also allow restaurants in Shelby County currently serving alcohol on Sunday to continue that practice.
“We fought every day to hold them in check,” said Sen. Hank Erwin, R-Montevallo, who led much of the efforts against alcohol sales and gambling expansion. “We just didn’t have the strength to defeat them. We need to go back and not only educate our people in the churches but also educate our legislators as to the dangers of alcohol. We need to think long and hard before expanding alcohol accessibility.”
Although he had hoped for a different outcome, Erwin said he is proud that he and other anti-gambling legislators were able to hold off all bills seeking to expand electronic bingo gambling across the state.
Todd Stacy, Riley’s press secretary, said he was not surprised by the gambling push this year.
“They do this every year,” he said. “There is always an attempt by the gambling moguls to turn Alabama into the next Atlantic City or Biloxi. … The bills once again failed because people out there understand and have communicated with their representatives that they don’t want to see the family-friendly aspect of Alabama be tainted by casinos and adult entertainment parlors. … Their voices were heard.”
Looking forward to the upcoming election year, Joe Godfrey, executive director of Alabama Citizens Action Program, issued a warning to Alabama Baptists.
“You saw how much money was poured into lobbying efforts,” he said. “They poured millions into those ads and mail pieces. Next year is election year, 2010. They are going to be pouring money into candidates that are supportive of gambling. They will present them as church going, family oriented, etc., … (It is) vital that we stay on top of (and) analyze these candidates. If we don’t, we will be electing people who will do what the gambling industry wants them to do.”
Another piece of legislation that died during the session was HB 533. This bill would have added sexual orientation to the already existing hate crimes law.
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