Nineteen days and counting until the start of the 2010 legislative session and so it begins — the fierce electronic bingo gambling battle that has drained countless hours on Alabama House and Senate floors. Both sides have already begun gearing up for battle.
“We are trying to rally the troops,” said Joe Godfrey, executive director of Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP). “The gambling forces are pumping millions (of dollars) in trying to get legislators to switch sides. All we’ve got are our connections with the people.”
Like last year, ALCAP is working closely with Citizens for a Better Alabama (CBA).
But this year, CBA has expanded its anti-gambling efforts and hired Catherine Snow to “develop grass roots support and provide education to people so they can be aware of what’s going to happen.”
“In the anticipation of their (gambling operators’) death throws, we decided we better gear up and prepare to do everything we can possibly do to stop them,” said Eric Johnston, a Birmingham-based attorney and president of CBA.
“They are totally going to mislead people. … I think they will be craftier and better this time … to come up with a plan to win.”
Johnston said the law has to be changed for gambling operators to stay in business.
“I expect them to come with as much force, money and effort as they have to do something because if they don’t then their days are numbered.”
Snow, who formerly worked in Washington with The Arlington Group defending socially conservative issues, expects to be busy over the next few months. Yet she remains hopeful.
“When people of faith come together and stand for righteousness, God will honor that, and I think there is ample room for that in Alabama,” she said. “The gambling forces have been beaten back in the past years, and you can’t grow weary in doing good despite the naysayers. When people of faith come together, there can be victory.”
Meanwhile ALCAP, along with Snow, shouted its war cry Dec. 16 in Sheffield with a few concerned leaders in Colbert-Lauderdale Baptist Association. Colbert County is the district of Rep. Marcel Black, who has sponsored major gambling legislation the past few years.
“That part of the state is not being affected [by electronic bingo gambling] as dramatically as some other parts of the state,” Godfrey said. “That’s one of the things we realized we are going to have to work on. … This is not just a local issue. … It affects entire regions and the state as a whole because the gambling enterprises are pulling money out of the general economy of the state.”
According to Godfrey, legislators are usually most concerned by issues directly affecting their districts. He hopes they realize their decisions in Montgomery affect the entire state.
Godfrey compared the potential expansion of gambling to the spread of alcohol in the state.
“Throughout the years, the alcohol industry has tried to turn the whole state wet, and with House Bill 175 (this year’s bill that lowered the number of residents needed for an alcohol vote) towns all across the state are having wet/dry votes,” Godfrey added. “If the gambling enterprise gets their foot in the door, it won’t be long before they begin pushing them (casinos) in every county and every city in the state.”
Another meeting was held Dec. 17 with pastors and key leaders in Houston County.
With the opening of Country Crossing’s 1,700-machine electronic bingo gambling facility earlier this month, Godfrey said a large number of citizens and pastors were concerned and ready for action.
“They feel like the local news media is promoting Country Crossing and the downside of gambling is not getting communicated to the citizens,” Godfrey said. “We want them to encourage their local law enforcement officials to take action.”
Godfrey believes gambling supporters will fight just as hard to maintain their businesses around the state.
“The gambling enterprise has learned from our playbook, and now they are focusing on the grass roots areas of the states,” he said.
Johnston agreed. “The difference between this year and last year is that in past years they (gambling operators) wanted to expand. But this year, their goal is to save what they’ve got.”
As the legislative session approaches, ALCAP and CBA plan to continue meetings with pastors and key leaders around the state.
To keep up with the upcoming legislative session, read The Alabama Baptist and visit www.thealabamabaptist.org and www.alcap.com.
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