Update on AL Legislature
11/02/10 12:53
Gambling has been the big issue this week in the AL Senate. On Tuesday, SB380 passed out of the Tourism Committee. No surprise there--the committee is stacked with pro-gambling legislators. The bill had it's second reading on Tuesday and many speculated it would be brought up for a vote on Thursday. It was not put on the special order calendar for today, and Sen. Lowell Barron said they would debate it on Tuesday. Sen. Del Marsh attempted to substitute the gambling bill on the special order calendar in order to force a vote. The gambling interests are estimated to be two votes short today--one due to Sen. Kim Benefield being absent today (I believe her husband was in a car wreck last night) and the other due to the waivering of Sen. Mark Keahey. Keahey, who represents Atmore, is reportedly getting a little twitchy on the bill because of pressure from the indian gaming interests in his district.
I'm hearing that as of now, the Republicans believe they have enough votes to stop the bill from passing. However, the gambling interests would not bring the bill to the floor without being absolutely sure they had the votes to pass it. We'll have to wait and see what happens on Tuesday.
Sen. Lowell Barron informed the body that Sen. Ted Little's PACT bill would be on the special order calendar. I will be watching for a vote.
A few weeks ago I mentioned HB81, a bill that allows persons charged or convicted of certain felony or misdemeanor criminal offenses to petition the court in which the charges were filed or in which the conviction occured to have his or her record expunged. The Senate verson of that bill, SB178 sponsored by Sen. Smitherman, did not garner enough votes today to overcome the BIR.
The Senate spent the morning working on Sunset bills (mostly boards or commissions that have to be reauthorized every year). Sen. Scott Beason introduced an amendment to each of the Sunset bills that prevents illegal immigrants from serving on those boards or commissions.
I'll continue to update as this very fluid situation changes.
I'm hearing that as of now, the Republicans believe they have enough votes to stop the bill from passing. However, the gambling interests would not bring the bill to the floor without being absolutely sure they had the votes to pass it. We'll have to wait and see what happens on Tuesday.
Sen. Lowell Barron informed the body that Sen. Ted Little's PACT bill would be on the special order calendar. I will be watching for a vote.
A few weeks ago I mentioned HB81, a bill that allows persons charged or convicted of certain felony or misdemeanor criminal offenses to petition the court in which the charges were filed or in which the conviction occured to have his or her record expunged. The Senate verson of that bill, SB178 sponsored by Sen. Smitherman, did not garner enough votes today to overcome the BIR.
The Senate spent the morning working on Sunset bills (mostly boards or commissions that have to be reauthorized every year). Sen. Scott Beason introduced an amendment to each of the Sunset bills that prevents illegal immigrants from serving on those boards or commissions.
I'll continue to update as this very fluid situation changes.
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