The Alabama Legislature will gavel in this week after its last week-long break, and negotiations on the much-debated gambling legislation will pick up in the coming weeks.
During the mid-20th century, Phenix City was a notorious haven for prostitution, gambling and organized crime. The beginning of the end came when then-Phenix City resident Albert Patterson was elected to likely become attorney general by running on cleaning up his hometown.
Thursday's 67-31 vote for House Bill 152, the enabling legislation accompanying a constitutional amendment on gambling, marked the end of a contentious week for members of the Alabama House of Representatives.
The Alabama House of Representatives will release two bills publicly that pertain to gambling in Alabama on Thursday. One is a Constitutional Amendment, and the second is the gambling legislation in itself.
Alabama legislators should pass a constitutional amendment allowing for expanded legalized gambling to appear on the ballot in November, according to Gov. Kay Ivey.
Republic Caucus nominee for Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) announced eight more state representatives he intends to appoint to committee chairs if he is elected in January.