"There are very few times in government where one plan can solve two problems -- especially huge issues like our state's budget shortfall and how to deal with bingo. But Alabama legislators will soon have the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone when they begin consideration of Senate Bill 381, the Alabama Bingo Control Amendment introduced by Sen. Marc Keahey, D-Grove Hill.

S381 differs in many positive ways for the citizens of Alabama from another bill introduced last week by Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, and Rep. Marcel Black, D-Tuscumbia, currently being circulated in the both the Senate Tourism Marketing Committee and the House Tourism and Travel Committee.

As Alabamians, we support the Alabama Bingo Control Amendment because it will stop the controversy over bingo that is hurting our state's image and costing people their jobs. It is not good for anyone when businesses that employ hundreds of people are shut down, and families lose their means of support.

As members of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, we support the bill because it provides a way to regulate the state's commercial gaming business for the benefit of its citizens."

Get the Story:
Robert McGhee: Bill would control bingo, raise revenue (The Montgomery Advertiser 2/10)

Also Today:
Indian-run casinos thrive as competitors close under threat of raids (The Mobile Press-Register 2/10)