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The issue of gambling in Alabama is continuing to take up a lot of space in the political discussions around the state. It’s getting more and more difficult to dicsuss anything else.
Sebastian Kitchen does an excellent job in the Montgomery Advertiser this morning laying out where we currently are in the controversy over bingo machines in Alabama. The most recent development was a letter that Governor Riley sent to state legislators in response to a letter they received from Randy Brinson of the Christian Coalition of Alabama. Brinson’s letter said, in part,
The most important point is that even if the Alabama Supreme Court rules in such a way that electronic bingo is found to be illegal, as long as paper bingo is allowed, the Indians will be allowed to continue their gaming operations thereby creating a monopoly for the Indians. This is very settled in previous federal case law.
And Riley responded,
make no mistake … the claim that our enforcement of Alabama’s anti-gambling laws in the Alabama Supreme Court will guarantee exclusive rights to Indian casinos is a bald-faced lie.
It seems like there is a fundamental disagreement, between the Governor and Attorney General Troy King, go figure, over some documents and procedures laid out by the federal government. A lawyer who specializes in gambling issues also sides with King and says the Governor is wrong on the law, that if any Class II gambling is allowed (which includes traditional paper bingo) than all Class II gambling is allowed for tribal entities. In other words, under the Indian gaming act, the recent ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court really has no impact on those gaming establishments.
You add to this the additional layer that former Riley administration official and candidate for governor Bill Johnson passed a polygraph this week around his claims that the governor took significant contributions from the Mississippi Choctaw Indians (a claim the Governor has strongly denied) and we have a real political firestorm continuing to build. Is the governor really only interested in eradicating all slot machines? Is he planning to raid Victoryland and the Indian casinos next?
If so…things are fixing to get mighty, mighty interesting and there won’t be much time on local news broadcasts or the local papers to talk about anything else. That would be extremely unfortunate for our state and its people. While gambling is deeply concerning to some Alabamians, there are many other important issues we should investigating and discussing as well.
Your comments are welcome below.
UPDATE: TWAY regular commenter waltm says over on Doc’s Political Parlor simply, It’s On.
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NEW TWAY BLOG POST: Gambling Sucking All Political Air in Alabama http://bit.ly/7c58g4 #alpolitics #gamblingGD Star Rating
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RT @TWAY_Kris: NEW TWAY BLOG POST: Gambling Sucking All Political Air in Alabama http://bit.ly/7c58g4 #alpolitics #gamblingGD Star Rating
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We ought too, but when a Big Mule’s profits are in danger, Christendom it self is on the brink and all else must give way. The old Bourbons set the pattern some still follow.
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RT @TWAY_Kris: NEW TWAY BLOG POST: Gambling Sucking All Political Air in Alabama http://bit.ly/7c58g4 #alpolitics #gamblingGD Star Rating
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[...] Gambling Sucking All Political Air in Alabama The issue of gambling in Alabama is continuing to take up a lot of space in the political discussions around the state.A It’s getting more and more difficult to dicsuss anything else. [...]
Question, what is Riley’s motivation for this battle? Is he setting up some Repub nominee, or (more likely) is he preparing for a Senate run in 2012? Also, is it beyond comprehension that Riley might consider a run for President in 2010? All that’s to say, I just don’t buy the argument that his motivation behind the task force is his moral compunction, or his desire to field dress Troy King.
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I won’t pretend to know what is motivation is, but I agree that the moral compunction argument should be looked on with skepticism. I would not be surprised if there was more to it along the lines you put forward, Joe.
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Everything i’ve read makes it clear the Governor “motivation” is he believes these machines are illegal and since our AG won’t enforce the law, Riley will. So far, it appears Riley is right: several judges and the AL Supreme Court have issued rulings that these machines are not legal in Alabama.
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California appellate court decision in march 2004 that dealt a blow to Indian Sovereignty in ruling that California Indians tribes must disclose their campaign contributions publicly. The court ruled that the states authority under the U.S. Constitution includes the power to sue anyone, including sovereign Indian Tribes, to enforce Campaign disclosure laws. Although some tribes disclose campaign contributions Voluntarily, this decision would require the tribes to abide by the states campaign laws. Alabama or Missippi may not have a law on their books requiring disclosure.
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Barney Franks presents another chalange to Bob Riley, he has unviled a federal online Gambling Bill. The Internet Gambling Regulation Consumer Protection & Enforcement Act would establish a federal regulatory and enforcement framework for online Gambling. He said the government should not inmterfere with people’s liberties. I agree with the last statement, I think it is a personal decision for a person to gamble if he wants to, I don’t. Gov. Riley may have to build a border fence between Alabama and Missippi and outlaw internet communication to stop online gambling.
online gambling.
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