Jamiesfeast – Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey called Tuesday night for a limited school voucher program to be made and said she would back two controversial bills that are being considered by lawmakers this year: laws to limit gambling and limits on voting absentees.
Early in the 2024 legislative session, lawmakers had to make decisions about gambling, voting, and education. Priorities for the year were laid out in Ivey’s yearly State of the State address.
In an exciting announcement, the Republican governor of Alabama expressed her backing for the development of gambling legislation in the state’s House of Representatives. This legislation aims to authorize a statewide vote on the establishment of a state lottery as well as a limited number of casino sites. It is important to note that Alabama has not held a statewide vote on gambling since former Governor Don Siegelman’s proposed lottery was unsuccessful in 1999.
Over the years, various bills related to gambling have faced obstacles, largely due to conservative opposition to legalized gambling as a means of generating revenue and disagreements regarding the allocation of casino licenses. Nevertheless, the governor’s support for this new legislation brings hope for progress in the realm of gambling in Alabama.
In a statement made on Tuesday night, Governor Ivey expressed her belief that the time has come for Alabama voters to once again voice their opinion on this matter.
Lawmakers who have had the chance to review the preliminary versions of the bill have stated that it will allow for the establishment of a state lottery and up to 10 casino sites. Republican Representative Chris Blackshear, the driving force behind the gambling legislation, mentioned that a bill could potentially be presented as early as Wednesday, emphasizing that the progress on this matter is constantly evolving.
“We have been delaying action for far too long,” he expressed. “Our main objective is to create a comprehensive proposal that enables the people of Alabama to determine their preferences. Ultimately, it is their votes that hold the power to decide.”
The bill requires bipartisan support in order to be approved. Currently, the Alabama Constitution prohibits lotteries and casinos. To amend this, the proposal must be endorsed by three-fifths of legislators in both chambers and subsequently gain majority support from voters in a statewide election.
Democratic Representative Kelvin Lawrence, hailing from Hayneville, whose district encompasses a well-established gambling establishment, expressed his desire for the legislation to ensure equal treatment and fairness for locations where voters have previously given their approval for various forms of gambling. He emphasized the need to thoroughly review the entire bill before making a decision on how to vote.
Lawrence emphasized the importance of paying attention to the details, stating that “The devil is always in the details.”
Governor Ivey has put forward a plan to establish education savings accounts, which will enable families to utilize public funds for private school tuition and other educational expenses. The proposed fund, amounting to $100 million, will offer tuition vouchers of up to $7,000. Initially, the focus will be on assisting low- and middle-income families, as well as families with students who have disabilities. This new proposal is scaled down compared to the $500 million plan introduced last year, which faced criticism for potentially depleting public education resources.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey expressed her ambition to propel their program towards full universality while emphasizing their unwavering commitment to public education.
The bill, known as the CHOOSE Act, aims to provide more opportunities for students and their families. Under this legislation, families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level, which would be approximately $77,460 for a family of three, would be eligible to use public funds for private school tuition or other educational expenses. It is important to note that the income cap would be lifted after three years. However, priority would be given to lower-income families and families with students who have disabilities when allocating funds.
State Senator Arthur Orr, the sponsor of the bill, expressed satisfaction with the current progress of the education savings accounts. He stated, “I think we’ve landed at a very good place, a healthy but manageable amount for initiating the education savings accounts.” Orr also mentioned that he expects the bill to be in committee next week, indicating that progress is being made towards its implementation.
Democrats have raised concerns regarding the allocation of public funds for private schools, while certain Republicans may advocate for a more comprehensive proposal. In a similar vein to last year’s introduction, a competing bill was presented on Tuesday, which aims to establish a broader program offering up to $400 million in vouchers.
A Senate bill that would make it illegal to help someone vote by paper ballot unless they are close family or a household member is up for a vote in committee on Wednesday. Ivey spoke in favor of this bill. Last year, similar bills caused a lot of discussion. People who are against it say it’s an attempt to make it harder for people to vote. Conservatives say the change is needed to stop people from lying on their ballots.
It would be a misdemeanor to order, pre-fill, request, collect, or deliver an absentee vote for someone who is not a family member or member of the household. If the person is paid, the crime becomes murder. The bill makes it okay for poll officials to help people and for people who are blind, disabled, or can’t read to ask for help.
According to Ivey, the bill aims to address the issue of unaccountable, paid political operatives who exert pressure on individuals during the absentee voting process by closing existing loopholes.
Senator Bobby Singleton, a Democrat from Greensboro, expressed doubts about the necessity of the bill.
“I believe that this issue is not specific to our state but rather a national concern for Republicans,” Singleton expressed. “It seems like our state is simply following suit without any real basis. The truth is, ballot harvesting is not a problem in our state.”