Senator: bingo "issue is over"

A prominent Democrat declared a movement to pass a bill that would tax and regulate gambling in the state "over."
Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, and other Democrats did not muster the 21 votes needed to formally bring up the legislation for debate on Wednesday. They were three votes short.
"I think this issue is over," he said.
Some other supporters of the legislation were more hopeful.
Sen. Paul Sanford, R-Huntsville, said he planned to draft and introduce legislation that would be a straight up or down vote on whether people want electronic bingo. Fellow Republican Scott Beason of Gardendale has already introduced legislation that he said would allow people to vote on whether they want gambling before deciding how to govern it in Alabama.
Bedford, the sponsor of the legislation they voted on Wednesday, said people lost their right to vote on Wednesday and thousands of people have lost their jobs in recent weeks as casinos in Alabama have closed.
Several Republicans said the legislation before them on Wednesday was corrupt and gave monopolies to casino operators in the state.

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen