Despite speculation about the effort in the House to pass comprehensive gambling legislation, State Sen. Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville) still sees it as a long shot in 2024.
Gambling would require a three-fifths majority vote by both chambers of the Alabama Legislature to initiate the amendment process to remove the prohibition on gambling in the 1901 Constitution of Alabama.
However, Givhan said he did not see a path for the required 21 out of 35 "yes" votes in the State Senate to get it on the ballot for a vote by the people.
The Madison County Republican told Huntsville radio WVNN's "The Dale Jackson Show" on Thursday the pro-gambling forces were not "anywhere close."
"It's not just the 'not in my backyard,'" he said. "It's a question of how much fight do you put up to stop it. And I'm not swinging my saber around and rattling it about because I don't think they're anywhere close to 20 senators, and it takes 21, and don't think there is anywhere close to 20 senators to vote for it."
Jeff Poor is the editor in chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
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