Christian Coalition says it did not send autmoated phone call

March 12, 2008

Lance Griffin

Collier Craft, spokesperson for the Christian Coalition, told me the Christian Coalition of Alabama played no part in the automated phone messsage delivered to many Houston County residents over the weekend. Some of the language used in the phone message was similar to an action letter sent out by the Christian Coalition of Alabama concerning electronic bingo in Houston County.

Christian Coalition to hold rally in Dothan

Lance Griffin

The Alabama Christian Coalition will hold a rally in opposition to the electronic bingo center proposed for the Country Crossing development. The rally will be held on the steps of the Houston County Courthouse at 2 p.m.

Below is a copy and paste of the press release:

Montgomery – In an effort to stem the rapid expansion of electronic gambling machines in Houston County and the Wiregrass, Dr. Randy Brinson, Chairman of the Christian Coalition of Alabama will be joined by Christian leaders from the area on the Houston County Courthouse steps tomorrow to protest a recently proposed gambling mecca for the county.

The out of state investors associated with the project envision the area as being another Branson, Missouri, but in reality after they are finished it will be more like Biloxi, Mississippi or Las Vegas, Nevada. Christians all over the state are joining together to see that the expansion of businesses such as these – that demoralize our Christian beliefs – are not allowed to prosper in our state.

Because of a gambling loophole that has been found in Alabama law, these operations are growing and many operating unregulated. Legislation introduced by Rep. Marcel Black, D-Tuscumbia, will clarify the law to assist law enforcement officials in closing down video bingo operations opening in numerous counties around the state. The bill would also create $172 million in new revenue earmarked to fund Medicaid healthcare programs. Most importantly, this legislation would allow the people of Alabama to decide in a vote the regulations of illegal electronic gambling machines in their communities. 

WHAT:    Rally/Press Briefing
WHO:    Dr. Randy Brinson, Chairman of the Christian Coalition of Alabama and Christian leaders from the area.
WHERE:  Front Steps of the Houston County Courthouse

WHEN:  Tomorrow, Thursday, March 13th at 2:00 p.m. 

**To schedule an interview with the Christian Coalition of Alabama’s Chairman, Dr. Randy Brinson, please contact Collier Craft at 205-757-6927 or .

About the Christian Coalition of Alabama:

The Christian Coalition of Alabama is a 501c4 nonprofit organization committed to promoting and pursuing the application of Christian principles to public policy that is devoid of partisan politics and convey reasonable conservative solutions to issues that confront government at both the state and federal level. For more information, visit the Christian Coalition’s Web site at: http://www.ccalabama.org.

Bingo bill vote put on hold

March 11, 2008

Lance Griffin

The Associated Press is reporting that Rep. Marcel Black, D-Tuscumbia, has pulled a proposed constitutional amendment from the legislative calendar today, apparently because he does not have the votes necessary to pass it. The bill could make the type of electronic bingo center proposed for Country Crossing illegal if passed by the Alabama Legislature and then by a vote of the people of the state.

To read about it, click here

Keep an eye on the legislature

Lance Griffin

A bill could be debated in the Alabama House today that may kill electronic bingo in Houston County. HB577 is a wordy 25-page bill that would expand electronic bingo centers to race tracks at Mobile and Birmingham, and effectively outlaw it everywhere else other than race tracks in Greene and Macon Counties.

Although a previously existing bingo amendment exists in Houston County, it appears this bill would limit the type of bingo that could exist here. The bill states “bingo shall not be conducted at any location (other than a racetrack) pursuant to a local bingo amendment, whether or not using conventional bingo equipment, under conditions where more than one bingo game per minute is played at such location. No equipment or device of any kind shall qualify as conventional bingo equipment (other than a racetrack) if it is used to play, or facilitate the playing of, more than one bingo game per minute in any single building, hall or other location used for playing bingo.“

The House is scheduled to be in session this afternoon. To listen to live audio from the House, go here

Still no land deal

Lance Griffin

As of 9:50 last night, attorneys were still working with landowners to finalize a deal for the Country Crossing site. Not sure if there is a snag with one or more of the landowners, or if the logistics of dealing with multiple landowners is slowing down the process. Yesterday Gilley said there is a Plan B site, very close to the existing site, should Plan A fall through.