Gov. Bob Riley sat down with The Alabama Baptist Feb. 10 to discuss the debate over the electronic gambling machines infiltrating Alabama. Following are some of his comments. The full story will appear on the home page of the Web site as well as in the Feb. 19 and Feb. 26 issues of the print edition.
“I still believe that according to all the people and research, this is not bingo. It has never been bingo. This is allowing slot machines to be put all over the state of Alabama.”
“We are going to cont to push this until we get a firm resolution.”
“Today Alabama has the worst of both situations. Gambling exists in Alabama in forms of slot machines, in my opinion. The state gets no revenue from it. People have spoken for many years on this. It’s embedded in the constitution. People have voted it down. They don’t want it.”
“People say they like the quality of life they have in Alabama and don’t want it mitigated by corruption and addiction that comes with gambling (as well as) families being torn apart that comes with.”
“We are going to enforce the law as it is today. We are trying to move it quickly to a resolution and conclusion and we think we can.”
“When I was sworn into office, I said I would uphold laws of Alabama and that is what I am trying to do.”
“I hope that the people of this state who love this state because of the beliefs, quality of life, all of them, Christians and anyone who doesn’t want to see that environment degraded will call their representatives and senators. It is time for all people who feel this way to start demanding that there be equal enforcement of the law in every county. … I think the people of this state need to demand that the law be enforced.”
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