Will Gambling Consume All Other Issues?

Walt mentioned the first bingo bill of the session this morning… looks like the gambling issue (along with the budget which must be addressed) may suck up all the oxygen available for other issues.

The acrimony between Gov. Bob Riley and AG Troy King appears to be growing. Did you read the exchange of letters that the Press-Register posted yesterday morning?

King said in his letter to Riley that the Governor’s press secretary “demonized Houston County’s government officials.” King added,

Because the integrity of this Office has been questioned, in light of your accusations, I am refraining from superintending the case [in Houston County involving Country Crossing] at this time.

Since you have raised the issue of the appearance of conflicts of interest, however, I would remind you that recent news accounts have alleged that you accepted laundered campaign contributions from Mississippi Indian casino interests whose own casinos would benefit from the elimination of Alabama competition. Further, images of you wrapped in an Indian blanket during your visit to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ reservation in Atmore have been widely distributeed. Of course, the PBCI also stands to benefit from the elimination of non-Indian gaming in the State. Allegations such as these could cause the pbulic to view your continued involvement in this matter as being, in fact, or at least in appearance, compromised.

For his part, Riley responds in his letter,

I reject any suggestion that my involvement has been, to use your word, “compromised.” The fact that gambling advocates repeat a smear over and over does not make it correct, and it would be a dangerous precedent for a public official who has taken an oath to ensure that the law is faithfully executed to recuse himself simply because people engaging in illegal activity make baseless allegations of bias.

In closing, Riley “hope[s] that the rhetoric that has resulted from our efforts to shut down illegal gambling can be toned down.”

The Press-Register has the full text of the letters online in .pdf files.

How often do you see this sort of clash in an administration played out publicly?

Meanwhile, Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow (D – Red Bay), chair of the House Tourism and Travel Committee, has his own concerns, saying that he thinks cruise ships with slot machines break state law just by being in Alabama.

Morrow said he’s heard that the office of Gov. Bob Riley, a Republican who has led a major campaign to shut down gambling in Alabama for the past year, may target cruise ship slot machines.

Riley spokesman Jeff Emerson, however, said the issue hasn’t been discussed by the administration.

Morrow invites “Concerned Public Officials” in a letter (.docx) to a meeting of his committee to discuss the issue next week.

I have been told of efforts to question the legality of cruise ships bringing slot machines into the State of Alabama. It has come to the attention of our House Tourism and Travel Committee that some people are considering a civil and criminal restraining order which would prevent cruise ships from coming into Alabama with such machines on board as such action would be in violation of Alabama law.

A negative decision by any court could also impact work done at our ship yards where slot machines are on board cruise ships under renovation and repair. State law currently prohibits any slot machine, operable or inoperable, from being located in Alabama. Even though the slot machines on these ships are disabled, they would fall into this prohibition. This could threaten hundreds of badly needed jobs and millions in tax revenue for the Mobile area.

Having been heavily involved with the recruitment of cruise ships to Alabama this is VERY troubling to our Committee. I am committed to protecting our work in bringing cruise ships to Alabama, which has created hundreds of jobs for Alabama.

Looks like the end to this will come from the legislature and/or the courts sorting out what the law intends and/or allows. The possible exception could be that if this drags out until November the state could have a Governor and an Attorney General on the same page who proceed in accord until/unless courts direct them differently.

In any case, it’s hard to see how this is anything but a high-profile issue on the campaign trail.

Related Articles:

• First bingo bill of the session - updated