One of the questionable provisions in the gambling bills brought by State Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore) would require a two-thirds vote of both chambers of the legislature for future gambling or lottery beyond the five casinos and lottery included in the bill.
The language has been decried as protectionist. However, State Sen. Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville), a gambling opponent, said he insisted on the language to prevent further expansion of gambling.
During an appearance on Huntsville radio WVNN's "The Dale Jackson Show" on Thursday, Givhan explained how it was to create the higher threshold to expand gambling beyond this legislation.
"Well, actually that was my provision as a carry-over from last time," he said. "Because I don't want any more gambling. I don't want this gambling. But if we're going to have a bad pill forced down, I don't want any more. Make it a higher threshold.
"It wasn't necessarily a poison pill," Givhan added. "It was the idea that, you know, if we're going to have to take this --- you're giving the mouse a cookie, know you want a glass of milk. It was trying to stop the glass of milk."
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