Alabama Republicans Threaten Censure For Gambling Bill Support

If anyone was curious as to how political parties move in the direction away from bi-partisanship, the state of Alabama may provide one of the answers. The Alabama Republican Steering Committee is threatening to censure any Republican lawmaker who votes in favor of a new expanded gambling Bill.

"The group is basically telling their members that if they think for themselves and form their own opinions on this issue, that they will be reprimanded," said observer Franklin Grutonic.

A censure in the government means that an official reprimand from a legislative body has taken place. In most cases it would occur if a lawmaker engaged in behavior that is deemed unacceptable.

The Steering Committee could be taking the censure activity to a new level. The current threat has to do with a bingo proposal, which would put many of the current bingo operations in the state out of business.

The state of Alabama has many bingo halls being operated by people with extreme lobbying power in the government. It is not yet known how much those lobbyists had to do with the threat handed down by the Steering Committee.

While the political pressure is being put on by the Committee, not all Republicans are in favor of such a political tactic. In fact, some believe it is downright dirty politics.

"I would be opposed to censuring any legislator who wanted to vote on this particular issue. I think the issue of gambling has to be put to the public, and we have to vote on it, straight up or straight down,' said Jack Cook, from the Alabama State Republican Executive Committee.

March 9, 2009
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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