Alabama has no money. A lottery might be its last hope.

[n2doc]

By Jeff Guo

…
Alabama might be the next to break down and start a lottery. For years, it has used loans, savings and one-time windfalls to balance its budget. Now it faces an intractable $200-300 million shortfall — a $700 million shortfall if all the borrowed money is thrown into the calculation.

“We knew this day was going to come. We knew this crisis was going to take place, and it’s here,” Gov. Robert Bentley (R ) said in a speech Monday morning.

Bentley has drawn criticism from his own party over his proposal for a $541 million tax increase, largely paid for by increases in the cigarette tax and the auto sales tax. So far, the Republican-controlled legislature has resisted his demands for new revenue. They are asking state agencies to submit plans for budget cuts in the vicinity of 15 to 30 percent.

Democrats in the state have come up with a third solution. A lottery, argues Rep. Craig Ford (D), could put a huge dent in the state’s budget problems — bringing in perhaps $280 million a year. Alabama Democrats have been proposing lottery legislation for years, but this time is different. The situation in Alabama is dire enough that a top Republican has added his name to the bill as well.

more
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2015/04/20/alabama-has-no-money-a-lottery-might-be-its-last-hope/?wprss=rss_politics

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Or..they could make pot legal....as Georgia has done.

just saying

[n2doc]

2. Georgia has legal pot?

Oh boy, I guess I will head down to downtown Savannah and buy me some!

(I think you are confusing medical MJ, and really a very tightly restricted distribution, with real legalization. My state remains as tight-assed on drugs as ever)

[Raine1967]

7. I am thinking that as well. But lemme tell you

Georgia and legal pot? I might move to Savannah! I love that city!

[n2doc]

10. Can you imagine St Pat's day in Savannah with legal MJ? n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

15. Medicinal pot, yes.

I prefer to look on it as the "bong is half full" angle.

[Arwinnick]

23. No,the oil only

read the law,it is not medical Pot

[Raine1967]

6. What? Georgia?

You sure you aren't talking about Colorado?

[dixiegrrrrl]

14. Medical marijuana is now legal in Georgia

http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2015/04/16/medical-marijuana-is-now-legal-in-georgia/

[NightWatcher]

22. Georgia legalized a certain strain of CBD oil, that no one can get

As of right now you can only get it in Colorado, but it is illegal to transport across state lines.

It's "legal" but not doable as of right now.

[AlinPA]

3. Forget it. Christian Fundamentalists don't like gambling. It is against God's will or

something like that.

[gratuitous]

4. Raising taxes on the wealthiest is clearly out of the question

So a lottery! Also known as the Stupid Tax, designed to separate people who don't understand statistics to part with their dollars (Full disclosure: I have been known to buy a lottery ticket from time to time, but as the ads say, "for entertainment purposes only." I know I will never win big.).

It will be interesting to see how this flies in one of those states that calls itself the buckle of the Bible belt. Will they evince a preference for a lottery over asking their most successful citizens to pitch in a little more to support a system that has rewarded them so handsomely?

[n2doc]

5. Yep, will be interesting to see

The only times I have bought lottery tickets have been with some of the really big ones, just to demonstrate to my children how futile the whole thing is. Last time I did not get a single number correct.

[Fumesucker]

8. Cigarette tax is also a stupid tax

And highly regressive just like auto tag fees are.

[gratuitous]

11. Yes it is

And doubly reprehensible in that the cigarette tax preys on addicts. Triply so in that for decades Big Tobacco tried to claim that its product wasn't addictive and deadly.

[Fumesucker]

13. Gambling also is a form of addiction or can be

[msongs]

16. cigarette taxes are a choice, nobody has to smoke cigarettes nt

[Fumesucker]

17. Nobody has to gamble or own a car either

Neither of those things are necessary for life.

[okaawhatever]

9. Do we all remember what happened to Gov. Siegelman when he tried to create an education lottery-

as opposed to a general taxation lottery? IIRC the Native American tribes opposed it because it cut into their money from casinos. They hired some associate of Rove as a lobbyist.

Be sure to tell the gov. not to borrow the money for the campaign for it.

[Rex]

12. Texas decided to make a lottery to help the public school system...ahem...

to this day, 'nobody knows where the money went'. And yet they rail on food stamps! Which are next to get cut along with unemployment and benefits for vets.

Those Good Old God Fearing Texas Republicans!

I hate every last one of them.

[onethatcares]

18. Floriduh started the lottery for the education system too

then the repukes pulled all the general fund money that was also dedicated to schools from them. Now we cut taxes on the job cremators and get to shine their boats and airplanes for $10.00 an hour.

Maybe, and I just say maybe, Branson could buy Georgia and auction it off to some high rolling CEO from Goldman Sachs and really get the libertarian dream rolling/

whadda you guys think of that idea?

[n2doc]

21. Believe me, I expect that day to come here in Georgia.

I have been surprised that it hasn't happened yet. But it is coming. We are surrounded by idiots.

[yallerdawg]

19. Alabama REALLY has no money.

We have a super-majority Republican State Legislature.

They will not raise taxes on anyone or anything. A lottery won't help now.

They are anticipating across the board 15-30% budget cuts.

They are planning to close 15 State Parks beginning May 1st which "do not turn a profit" and make the state money.

Our governor is talking about it, "It's not my fault!":

Gov. Robert Bentley told a crowd at Lake Guntersville State Park lodge today that the state budget crisis threatening the park and other state services is "real," and everyone will feel the pain if new revenue isn't found.

"Folks, I am not closing down Guntersville State Park," Bentley said, and 350 people in the park's ballroom erupted in applause. Then the governor went on.

"However, if the budget that has been presented to our Legislature at the present time that raises no revenue whatsoever, if that budget is voted on and adopted," Bentley said, "the Legislature will close down this state park."

http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2015/04/bentley_says_crisis_is_real_no.html#incart_river

[Arwinnick]

20. Doesn't alabama have the lowest property taxes in the USA?

I know the 1901 constitution prohibits raising taxes on farmland,forestland and mining.That's why so much of the state is in forest or farms.Then to lure industries like Honda,Mercedes,Hyndai,Airbus,Remington and a dozen others they give tax breaks for 30-49 years.
As long as the Talibama republicans are in power the more they want the state run off the back of the poor.
The lottery won't solve shit,just anorther poor tax.But legalizing Marijauna is a winner if done right.It could relieve unemployment in the black belt countys,buy starting state pot farms only in those countys and restricting growing elsewhere.

But it is TALIBAMA
Where ALLAH JESUS reigns

[eppur_se_muova]

24. ... and a sales tax of 9%.

When I was growing up here it was 5%; it's been slowly climbing over the decades. Locals are thrilled about their low property taxes -- which provide funding for schools -- which gives them some of the most poorly funded schools in the country. But screw the kids, we want to keep our money, dang it!